Under 14

Sandbach 12 - Altrincham 15 Sun 5 December 99 When Altrincham Kersal visited Sandbach for the opening game of the season they walked away with a very comfortable win. In this, their second meeting of the season - the First Round of the Cheshire Cup - it was an entirely different story. In an absorbing, very closely contested match Altrincham ran out narrow winners over their opponents but in truth the match could have gone either way. The Altrincham pack was slightly the stronger but Sandbach's free running back line consistently caused their opponents problems. Altrincham dominated the set scrum throughout but had Sandbach won even slightly more ball in this key area or from the lineout the likelihood is that the scoreline would have been narrowly in Sandbach's favour. Altrincham opened the scoring with a try after around 5 minutes made from forward dominance - their hooker going over in the corner. However they were unable to convert from the resultant tight angle. Within a further 5 minutes Sandbach went ahead with a fine try under the posts from centre Matt Walton. A break from fellow centre Jason Ashwin smashed a hole through the Altrincham defence. Although he was eventually stopped by three men he managed to get the ball away to Walton in close support who in turn ran through a further three attempted tackles for an excellent try. Andy Rollings converted to give Sandbach a 7 - 5 lead. The remainder of the first half was just as close with defences dominating and the sides turned round at 7 - 5 still with everything to play for. Sandbach made one change at half-time, bringing on Ben Read for Stewart McCracken at flanker. The early part of the second half saw Altrincham put Sandbach under a lot of pressure. However Sandbach managed to hold their line together well for ten minutes or so until Altrincham went ahead with a number 8 move from a five metre scrum. The try in the corner again went unconverted but nevertheless Altrincham were ahead at 7 - 10. A spell of Sandbach pressure was well defended by Altrincham who then extended their lead with an identical try, in almost identical circumstances, from their powerful number 8. Again the try went unconverted. Sandbach 7 - Altrincham 15. Although time was running against them Sandbach rallied well and after a period of pressure in their opponents 22, a break from scrum-half Tom Hodgkinson caught the Altrincham defence napping and he was able to beat two men and then slip the ball to winger Andy Rollings who crossed for a well earned try. Chris Greenhalgh was unable to convert from a difficult angle. Sandbach 12 - Altrincham 15. The last two or three minutes saw Sandbach applying immense pressure on their opponents but time proved to be against them. This was a match that showed what junior rugby is all about. Played fairly and in good spirits by two very well matched teams. It was a shame that one of them had to lose and even more of a shame that on this occasion it was Sandbach. Final score Sandbach 12 - Altrincham 15 Sandbach - Lawrence, Henry, Caen, Faulkner, Wagstaff, McCracken (Read), Graveney, Stubbs, Hodgkinson, Greenhalgh, Ashwin, Walton, Rollings, Huss, Eyers.