Under 08

Sandbach 20 - Winnington Park 20 Sun 18 March 2001 There are times when Sandbach seem to like to do things the hard way. Three minutes gone and 2 tries down! Winnington Park were looking like easy winners; their first two tries being well executed and left Sandbach very exposed for cover on the wings. The situation was not helped further with the temporary loss of one of the Sandbach players due to an accidental bump of heads with a teammate. However, the substitution turned out to be a revelation, more of which later. Having realised that the visitors were serious, concentration seemed to return and the team steadily worked their way up field showing some good handling of the ball in the cold conditions. After a spell camped on the opposition try line, the said substitute popped up to break the ice for Sandbach. However, the visitors immediately came steaming back to go into a 15 - 5 lead at half time. With bumped head now fully mended and another substitution to avoid hypothermia, the Sandbach team lined up for the second half looking more determined. With possession from the re-start we made a quick break through the Winnington defence and with two players in support crossed the line to narrow the gap. Sensing that all was not lost, Sandbach turned on the pressure and forced a few handling errors from the visitors. Capitalising on these, we scored two further tries to take a 20 - 15 lead. Over-enthusiasm then got the better of us as we squandered other try scoring opportunities due to try line tunnel vision, when the better option would have been to pass to either of the two unmarked Sandbach players outside. Full credit to Winnington Park who resisted this pressure and themselves seized the only opportunity to come their way to level the score at full time. The under 8?s continue to extend their unbeaten record, but must count themselves lucky to have escaped with a draw today, against a Winnington team who themselves have only lost one match. Try scorers: Jordan Johnson (substitute), James Stops, William Bordill, William Jepson. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As Winnington had brought 19 players with them it seemed only fair to play another two games so they could all have a run out. This also allowed the rest of the Sandbach squad to have at least one full game. Both of these games were similarly equal and fiercely contested with the scores being 20 - 20 and 20 - 15 (to Sandbach). However a special mention must go to Jordan Johnson who during the course of the day managed to get over the line a total of 6 times. Well done Jordan, we?re still waiting for the Jugs (of orange juice, you understand). Derek Jepson.