Credit: Andy Mitchell
The Bach enjoy final pre-season run out in the sun – match report by Rhys Fullerton
Sandbach 1st XV 22-19 Bromsgrove 1st XV
Saturday 31st August – 3pm
Pre-season friendly
Bradwall Road
Bromsgrove were the visitors at Bradwall Road on Saturday for Sandbach’s final pre-season fixture.
The Boars, who play in the Midlands division, are a league above the Bach and posed tough opposition.
Sandbach boasted a squad of 33 players, which included 25 mini and junior graduates, three of whom played for the Under 18s last season.
The match also saw the return of former club captain Mike Egglestone, who is back at the club after several seasons away.
Sandbach, playing in black, were led out by newly appointed club captain Jimmy Gore.
The match was played in four 20-minute quarters and the first five minutes saw both teams playing fast-attacking rugby before an injury break allowed things to settle.
Bromsgrove struggled to get into Sandbach’s half early on, as big tackles drove them back and it took fifteen minutes for them to finally break through.
They applied pressure by moving the ball between both wings before earning a lineout.
Their maul was held up by Sandbach, but a penalty was awarded in Bromsgrove’s favour.
They worked the phases and broke through to score the first try of the match.
The match paused for the first break with Bromsgrove awaiting a scrum in Sandbach’s half.
Credit: Andy Mitchell
They reacted fast from the restart and moved the ball out wide to find Sandbach short of numbers on the wing and they scored their second try.
Sandbach responded well and from the restart they regained the ball and kicked it through for a Bromsgrove lineout, around 6m out.
Sandbach got the ball back, continued to press and Tim Young went over to score the first try for the Bach.
Five minutes later and Sandbach were on the attack again.
Winger Elliott Morris tried out some fancy footwork only to find touch and a Bromsgrove lineout.
Sandbach won the lineout and soon had a scrum in Bromsgrove’s half.
The scrum resulted in a penalty and then a lineout 22m out.
Bach’s maul was strong, and they earned another penalty soon after, which led to another lineout 10m out.
From here the maul continued to trouble Bromsgrove and eventually Max Beadle secured five more points.
There were impressive runs from Josh Brookes, Gore and Morris but it was a quick penalty and try on the wing by scrum-half Laurie Essenhigh, who recently joined the coaching setup, which put Sandbach in the lead.
The break at half time was what Bromsgrove needed and they were fast out of the blocks.
With a scrum twelve metres out, they showed what their set piece could do as they ran in directly under the posts.
After a successful conversion, they reclaimed the lead with the scores at 15-19.
Both teams fought hard, but it was Sandbach who would edge ahead as they stunned everyone with a quick penalty and an unopposed try beneath the posts by Ben Verbickas.
Henry Mitchell nailed the conversion to increase their lead to 22-19.
After the final break, Bromsgrove seemed more vocal and eager than before. There was plenty of kicking and both teams applied the pressure in attack.
Bromsgrove kept pushing in the final minutes, but Sandbach’s defence was strong enough to secure the win.
Special praise goes to Elliot Newell, Ben Verbickas, Harry Leese, Rhys John and Issac Chennells who did a stint for the opposition, allowing a great afternoon of rugby to take place.
Sandbach looked sharp and will be delighted with the performance but there is no time for complacency.
The Bach will be eager to go again next Saturday and start their league campaign with a win against Burnage.
Next match: Sandbach 1st XV vs Burnage 1st XV – Saturday 7th September – kick-off 3pm
