Sting in the Tail by Vale

Sandbach/Northwich/Manchester came out of the starting blocks very quickly with Nieve Jones converting a quick try by Jordan Morris who dived over the line on Sandbach’s first attack from their kick off.

Vale were able to organise themselves better when Sandbach attacked again from the restart and resisted a strong drive from the attacking forwards in their own 22. When Sandbach were awarded an attacking scrum for a knock on, the experience of Jordan who spotted that there was no one at home on the blind side gave her an unopposed second try. Again the score was converted, this time by Rachel Graham.

The pressure from the Sandbach forwards was surely going to bring the pack a deserved try but when the inevitable happened and the pack drove a good 10 metres to reach the line, it was Amy Lees who had added her support from the three-quarters to claim the “forwards” try.

From the restart, Rachel collected the ball cleanly and a great run up the right wing resulted in her first try of the match to bring the score to 26-0.

Despite the rain and wind, Sandbach were not persuaded to simply grind out a win up front, and a quick ball from the platform provided by the forwards was gratefully collected by Katie Morten (voted Player of the Match) who looped around her opposite numbers and sprinted down the left wing to touch down, converted again by Rachel.

Rachel, who was awarded the coaches’ Player of the Match, had probably her best game and used her strength and speed to add to her already profitable kicking duties by driving through the Vale defence for her scecond try, duly converting that to make the score 40-0 at half time.

As in the first half, Jordan was the first player to get on the scoreboard in the second, capitalising on some skilful ball handling by the Sandbach girls with the backs linking well with the forwards. In fact, it was Amber Smith who almost broke the defence after joining the back line but Jordan’s support work had left her well placed to claim the points.

Sandbach had sportingly loaned Vale two players for the first half in Amber and Hannah Johnson. Hannah had obviously missed the good ball that she is used to from her regular team mates and soon grabbed her first try as if to announce her return to the side. With the visitors now 50 points ahead, victory was practically assured.

The Vale girls showed tremendous spirit throughout however and their first score was greeted with the appropriate celebrations. A quickly taken tap penalty had put them in a strong attacking position and the Vale forwards were well up for the challenge and drove over for a well earned score.

It was perhaps a result of the weather that the match started to close down at this point into a forwards battle. If ever that happens, then Sandbach usually have the players to cope as Thea Breau proved when she fought her way over the line in a quick response to Vale’s first score. Jordan hit the conversion attempt against the crossbar but at 55-7, Sandbach appeared to have restored order.

If Thea’s first try owed a lot to her own determination, her second try was for all the forwards as Alyx Maw and Natalie Pearson in particular combined to force the Vale defenders backwards before Thea peeled off the maul to touch down for what turned out to be Sandbach’s last score, converted by Nieve.

Sandbach continued to supplement Vale’s team with loaned players, and for the last quarter, Vale had the benefit of the free-scoring Jordan and Sandbach’s forward of the day in Thea. Unfortunately for Sandbach, the platform that Jordan provided for the Vale backs and the momentum that Thea gave to their forwards, revitalised the home side at the same time as Sandbach seemed to be looking forward to their showers!

The first try from the new look Vale came after a succession of penalties, which Jordan took advantage of by some quick taps advancing Vale into the Sandbach 22. With the Sandbach defence in disarray, Vale’s second try was scored under the posts.

Sandbach lost their shape after that disappointment (or Vale found theirs maybe?) and in the last five minutes the tired Sandbach defence were unable to prevent the reinvigorated Vale of Lune girls from gaining a fairer reflection of their efforts on the scoreboard. Two more converted tries for Vale of Lune closed the game at 62-26 to Sandbach.

Sandbach played well as a team throughout, adjusting their play to suit the poor weather conditions but playing with flair when possible. The unsettling of the team in order to quite fairly balance the numbers was justified by an enjoyable and competitive match.

Such a result was well deserved by the hosts who fielded a number of relatively inexperienced players. Their abilities clearly matched their determination however once they were able to secure good possession. Meanwhile Sandbach sit proudly at the top of the table after two away games.