Vale of Lune routed at Sandbach

MATCH REPORT: Sandbach 50 Vale of Lune 19

The Cheshire skies stayed dry for the Vale's first visit to Sandbach for several years.

The home side were poised two NW2 league places above the Vale, but on the back of three wins, the Vale arrived with hope and confidence.

Head coach Dan Williams adjusted the lineup, moving captain Jack Ayrton into the centre, restoring Eddie Abdelghafar to the wing and giving a start to prop Ross Pillow, acknowledging his selection for the Lancashire Royals squad this week. 

Sandbach fielded a youthful team, ignited by their scrum half, Essenhigh. He made the vital break to create the first try.

Some sliced clearance kicks showed a nervy mindset for both sides, until a period of heavy, dogged scrummaging from the Vale resulted in a lineout, a driving maul and a burst of energy from within the melee by Sam Wallbank to score.

Ramwell converted to equalise, then Sandbach put the Vale under sustained pressure on their try line. It was like a 'Rourke's Drift' reenactment scene, and the half time whistle came with the relief one might expect from the sight of reinforcements.

With the score tiered at 7-7, the game could have gone in the favour of either side. 

The second act began as the first had ended, but this time, Sandbach made it count. Their snappy ball-handling and urgency began a steady stream of points finished by their left winger, Chennels.

Four tries were added before the Vale could reply.

Again it was the power of Wallbank that halted the onslaught, but it was temporary and merely academic.

Frustration surfaced among the Vale players. Two penalty decisions given in the Vale's favour were reversed by the referee due to indiscipline,. No. 8 Mark Goodman was deemed to have been overly physical, so off to the 'thinking area' he went for 10 minutes. 

Sandbach added two more tries and a penalty goal, but some consolation was found in a try by Archie Fowler at the close.

The score would suggest a wide chasm in abilities, but long periods of open play saw the Vale match Sandbach for possession and invention.

It was the ability to finish moves that set them apart. Man-of-the-Match Chris Ramwell put in an admirable shift at full back, and hooker Harm Dokter got the chance to return to the club of his youth.  

Next week, the NW2 campaign is on hold as the Vale play in the second round of the Lancashire Cup, away at Firwood Waterloo. Kick off at 2.15pm. 

Team:  A. Fowler, A. Powers, R. Pillow, H. Fellows, J. Sutcliffe, S. Wallbank, M. Goodman, K. Pickup, J. Batty, J. Silverwood, D. Leighton, J. Ayrton, J. Antcliffe, E. Abdelghafar, C. Ramwell,       Reps: G. Oyston, T. Nicholson, H. Dokter.

(Photo by Thomas Bradburn.)