Sat 27 Nov 2021
The game started with the remnants of Storm Arwen still evident, with the visitors playing against the elements but with the slope in their favour. The home side took the lead on ten minutes attacking the blind side of a scrum for a converted score that looked too easy in its execution. Within five minutes Elliott Murphy had reduced the arrears with a penalty and from another penalty North opted to kick for the corner. The catch and drive looked like going over but Luis Evitt cleverly put Gareth Bladen in for a score that went unconverted to nudge North in front 8-7. The home side then had a period of pressure and scored with a penalty from a line out infringement and another line out close to the North line gave the Sandbach blind side flanker the opportunity to touch down, the impressive fly half converting well in difficult conditions. The number 6 then went from hero to zero being sin binned for entering the side of a maul, North taking advantage with skipper Jonah Boyce going over for a try that went unconverted making the half time score 17-13 in favour of the hosts.
Early in the second half the visitors were also reduced to 14 men when Callum Bradbury was shown a yellow card for preventing a quick tap penalty. The Sandbach back line then worked well to create a score wide out with the difficult conversion against the wind sailing over to extend the lead to 24-13. A knock on from Sandbach then gave Jordan Burgess the chance to pick up the loose ball and out sprint the home defence for a try, the conversion attempt just missing. A deliberate knock on resulted in the home side Centre visiting the sin bin and from the subsequent penalty Murphy kicked for the corner. A catch and drive was illegally stopped by intervention from the side, the referee awarding a penalty try and red carding the Sandbach number 6 for a second bookable offence. Leading 25 -24 with 20 minutes left and playing against 13 and then 14 men respectively North would have hoped to close the game out but a penalty 10 minutes from time by the Sanbach fly half was the final score and gave his side the win, the number ten was given the man of the match for his impeccable goal kicking and his general control of the game in very difficult conditions. North left with two bonus points but will rue some missed opportunities to win the game in the closing stages. Next week Bridgnorth have their Xmas lunch and host Scunthorpe who sit forth in the table and visit on the back of a victory over league leaders Sheffield.
