Furness Caught Cold

The Furness team arrived at Sandbach with a small squad for this North West Merit League fixture. So that a competitive game could be played, Sandbach agreed to loan four players to the visitors.
The Sandbach girls started the game stronger, keeping possession of the ball through several phases but making little progress into the Furness half. Ironically, it was Furness who capitalised immediately from a turnover - a smart run down the left wing resulted in the first points of the day from the visitors’ first possession.
The game then became confined between the 10 metre lines until Hannah Johnson and Harriet Parsons linked well to break into the Furness 22. It looked as if the break had come to nothing when the ball was knocked on, but the Sandbach pack did well to win the resulting scrum against the head. Jordan Morris flicked the ball back to Nieve Jones who crashed over to level at 5-5.
There was little between the teams, but eventually Furness gained an attacking platform with an attacking scrum awarded no more than 10 metres out. The scrum was well controlled and Furness once again took the lead as their forwards drove over.
This led to an extended period spent in the Furness half and even their 22, but without much direction to make a score seem likely. Molly Latham’s frustration with her team at that point perhaps led to a tremendous solo try from her. Spotting a lack of cover when receiving the ball just inside the Furness half. Molly was able to sprint to the line for an excellent score, although it has to be said that she arrived unsupported by her team mates. Whether this was because of their confidence or complacency wasn’t clear, but at least the scores were now level at 10 apiece.
If there was any overconfidence, then surely that had to melt away when Furness scored next, and converted, to re-establish their lead at 10-17, a lead that they held at half time.
A reorganisation in the second half saw a much more dynamic Sandbach team who were finally able to actually do something with the territory and possession that they had in the first period.
The scores were soon levelled once again when the forwards were able to force the ball over after Amy Johnson (now moved to scrum half) took the ball blind from a scrum on the 22, almost scoring herself. Nieve converted.
Katy Morten had switched back to Sandbach colours and through her own pace and looping support with the other backs, started opening up the gaps in the Furness back line. It was no surprise when Katy scored after some great passing along the line and some determined support to make it 22-17.
Sandbach never looked back from that point and took total control for the whole of the last quarter, with the forwards providing the platform, the half backs deciding the direction and the backs slicing through the defence.
Molly, now out of the pack, added to her first half score benefitting from yet another break from Katy. The gap was still too small not to need the conversion so Molly ran in from the corner to the sticks but unfortunately the kick rattled against the post to leave the score at 27-17.
Katy continued to impress and showed strength as well as speed to evade several tackles to touch down with Rachel Graham at her side in case needed. Such support running that had been lacking for the first half really showed what Sandbach can achieve when they play as a “team”.
Furness had clearly tired and it was not long before Molly grabbed her hat trick to effectively put the game well beyond the visitors at 37-17.
The light was fading now after a match in the winter sunshine but Sandbach were still enjoying themselves. Nieve certainly deserved a second try with a sidestepping run from inside her own half causing chaos in the Furness defence. She was eventually brought down a few metres from the line and perhaps it was fitting that the final try was a result of the support that went with her, credited to Jess Gurney who was driven over to close the scoring at 42-17 to Sandbach.

Sandbach continued to push for a final score and it looked as if that was going to come from Amber Smith who had the line in her sights after being released by Alyx Maw. Unfortunately the crunching tackle on Alyx had resulted in the touch judge deciding that the ball had gone forward and play was brought all the way back (thanks Mark!).
With the match by now well won, the whistle blew with the Sandbach U18 girls looking good after a perfect three wins out of three start in the Merit League.