Manchester & Sandbach Sunk By Mermaids

Although the defeats for both the U15 and U18 sides were disappointing, the games allowed several recent recruits to debut and gave the coaches an opportunity to see the Manchester and Sandbach squads playing as a combined team.

In similar fashion to the U15 match, Sandbach/Northwich/Manchester took the opportunity to play some new players alongside a number of players moving up from last season U15s squad to the senior girls’ age group. The experience of the players was clear and a bruising tactical game was played out amongst the forwards for the first quarter. Colwyn Bay broke the deadlock with an excellent try down the left wing, touched down under the posts. The quarter had been won by the Mermaids territorially so the try seemed a fair reward for their efforts.

Disappointingly for the home side, the second quarter yielded a quick try for the streetwise visitors who, having been awarded a scrum deep in the attacking 22, held the ball in the pack until the back row crashed over to double the advantage.

The Sandbach girls were by now working well together with Mollie Latham at No 8 and Captain, keeping the pack tight and determined. In fact, the well drilled pack soon won good ball for Jordan Morris and Nieve Jones at half backs to finally get the ball moving along their three quarters. In a sweeping attack, the ball was moved out to Hannah Johnson strongly supported by Rachel outside her on the wing. The duo were only denied a score by some effective last ditch defending.

It was obvious that the game was certainly not beyond Sandbach at half time, and a quick penalty following sustained pressure allowed Amy Johnson to deservedly register her team’s first score.

The pressure was maintained by Sandbach both in terms of possession and field position, and it seemed inevitable that the equalising try was going to be scored. Cruelly, a breakaway try from a rare loose ball saw the Mermaids very fortunate to close out the third quarter at 15-5.

Having established a clear advantage on the scoreboard although not necessarily on the pitch, the visitors were galvanised for one big effort to put the match out of reach of their hosts and their quick try at the start of the third quarter effectively did that.

What could not be denied however is that Sandbach scored easily the try of the day late in the game, when Manchester's Hannah Johnson collected the ball behind her own 10m line, having moved in from her wing. Seeing an opening ahead of her, Hannah decided to use her pace to round the forwards and then take on the Welsh centre and opposing wing. The two three quarters were cleared, but some determined running by the Colwyn Bay full back almost halted the flying wing who had to call on reserves of strength as well as speed to force herself over in the corner for a memorable score.