Rugby Match Report - Blackburn 14 - 22 Sandbach

Sandbach put in a titanic effort to upset the form chart, with their performance of the season against promotion favourites Blackburn.

The victory was based on a superbly organised and committed defence, despite the home team having the lion’s share of possession. Sandbach showed that they were not going to be bullied by the powerful Lancashire outfit and when they got some ball, they were dangerous opponents. The strong wind blowing down the ground was also a significant factor, with both teams reluctant to give possession away but eventually Sandbach’s greater collective spirit won the day in an enthralling game.

Sandbach kicked off with the elements in their favour and right from the onset the home team showed they were content to go through the phases and keep hold of the ball, which they proved to be extremely adept at. Though not particularly gaining any territory Blackburn were forcing the Bach to live off scraps, with the visitors hoping that their greater enterprise would pay off once they did get some ball.

This was the case for the first score as on nine minutes with a penalty advantage, Sandbach skipper Jimmy Gore threaded through a kick behind the onrushing Blackburn defence and winger Myles Hall won the race for the opening try. From then on, the pattern of play remained unaltered throughout the half, with Blackburn using their strong runners to gain metres and refusing to kick the ball at all. This was all very well, but with the Bach putting in a big defensive shift and the wind against the home team, it became something of a stalemate, with the game being largely played in the Blackburn half.

Bach’s score just before the break proved critical, as they generated a bit of momentum in their willingness to move the ball around and went through the phases to eventually create an edge, and Hall showed his experience and strength to score his second. Preston then knocked over a fine conversion for Sandbach to go in at the break 0 v 12 up.

Sandbach knew they were always going to be under even more pressure in the second half but got a great bonus when just five minutes in, they engineered a good position and Bach’s livewire scrum half was illegally stopped from scoring from a quick tap penalty by his opposite number. This resulted in the award of a penalty try and ten minutes in the bin for Burn’s Lewis Kincart. Blackburn hadn’t been beaten at home for three years and weren’t for lying down and with the wind now in their favour began to really take it to Sandbach. On a rare occasion they spun it wide, they managed to get winger Jake Foster in at the corner despite Sandbach’s Elliott Morris’s best efforts and with another great conversion out wide by their full back Josh Jarrold it was game on, with half an hour to play.

Back to fifteen men Blackburn continued to batter away and halfway through the half reduced the deficit to just five points, as their skipper Tom Burtonwood crashed over out wide and Jarrold repeated his earlier feat with another quality conversion. This was when the Bach truly dug in and following the example of the home team, they frustrated Blackburn by keeping the ball in hand. Eventually this policy paid off as having advanced into scoring territory, they were awarded a penalty and despite the strong wind, Preston banged it over, meaning that Burn now needed to score twice for victory with just over ten minutes to go.

Sandbach then managed the game well and nearly scored what would have been a bonus point try, when Morris broke away but was caught just metres from the line. However, with Blackburn still reluctant to kick the ball, Sandbach’s defence held strong for the last five minutes, which saw them play it in the home quarter and see out the victory.

This was a super performance by the Bach, which ironically despite the victory saw them slip a place in the league, as a result of rivals Rossendale’s 40 v 12 bonus point win against Burnage. The boys will be elated nonetheless, and this puts them in a good place for a big local derby next weekend as Macclesfield visit Bradwall Road. They too will be buoyant having beaten league leaders Lymm 32 v 36 with a deciding try in the last minute, so plenty to play for next Saturday.