Sandbach’s hope of a fast start on the opening weekend of their league campaign were crushed by south Manchester outfit Burnage, who visited Bradwall Road on Saturday.
Burnage finished fifth last season and on paper this should have been a close contest (ITALICS writes Rhys Fullerton).
Sandbach’s squad included some experienced players as well as some fresh, young talent. Debuts were given to hooker Will Bowbeer and winger Matt Randle, both graduates from last season’s Senior Colts.
Burnage got proceedings underway and it was a breathless opening 10 minutes with both teams getting their hands on the ball.
Burnage got the first points on the board when a little chip kick was regained and Elliott Morris, Sandbach’s speedy winger, couldn’t stop the sprint to the line.
Sandbach had to make their first change of the afternoon when injured prop Max Beadle was replaced by Archie Lea. A few minutes later and they were nursing another injury; this time captain Jimmy Gore was the one to leave the field to be replaced by Fraser Ashman. It was far from ideal to lose the captain and an influential scrummager this early on, but the ‘Bach had to focus.
Burnage increased their lead after a penalty and a yellow card for Sandbach gave them a lineout five metres out. A quick slip pass on the attack and they went over for the second time.
After 32 minutes the score was 0-12.
Sandbach needed to keep a foot in the game and a quick tap-and-go penalty by Morris got the attack moving. He was tackled but the ball found its way to Ryan Arundale, who slipped through for the try.
Sandbach kept up the momentum and Ashman bounced off tackles on the wing as they pushed on.
A penalty was awarded and an extra 10 metres was given for dissent.
Scrum-half Laurie Essenhigh went quickly but this time Burnage got the penalty to end Sandbach’s attack. Burnage opted for a quick penalty and moved the ball out wide.
Knowing that the clock had turned red, they attempted to kick the ball out only to miskick and it remained in play. They frantically chased the ball before finally ending the half at 7-12.
Spectacular
In the second half, Harry Leese made a spectacular solo run to breakthrough Burnage’s defence and a dummy pass left the defence floundering.
He had support but didn’t need it as another sidestep left him clear to score under the posts.
After the successful second conversion by Henry Mitchell, Sandbach were back in the game at 14-12.
Burnage took the lead again shortly after when their inside centre scored and they increased it further after 56 minutes when their full-back ran under the posts leaving the score 14-26.
Burnage picked up a yellow card for tackling a player in the air and the penalty left Sandbach with a lineout five metres out.
The referee called once when the maul failed to move but the determination of Josh Brookes and replacement Tom Holmes drove it on. The ball made it into Essenhigh’s hands and he slipped through to score.
That was Sandbach’s final score of the afternoon. They held their own up until this point and stayed in the game for as long as they could, but Burnage kept advancing.
A penalty five minutes later increased their lead by three before two final tries ended the match 19-41.
Try scorer Harry Leese was awarded player of the day.
On Saturday, Sandbach travel to Moss Farm to play Northwich 1st XV.
