Defeat to Northwich cuts Sandbach's league lead (From Crewe Guardian)

Defeat to Northwich cuts Sandbach's league lead

11:05am Friday 3rd February 2012 in More sport

Sandbach 10 Northwich 11

SANDBACH’S unbeaten home record and nine-match winning streak was cruelly ended in a narrow home defeat to local rivals and fellow promotion challengers Northwich.

The loss cuts Sandbach’s lead at the top of North One West to 16 points after main rivals Northwich and Widnes failed to pick up winning bonus points, but the table toppers will be looking to get their title hopes back on track with a win at Wilmslow on Saturday.

Northwich came out firing on all cylinders at Bradwall Road, silencing the home crowd with a Rich Dale penalty before brother Chris intercepted and ran 60 metres to take it to 8-0.

Cargill’s trusty boot pegged them back with a penalty, but Northwich’s sturdy defence served them well when enduring 10 minutes camped on their own line to keep the 8-3 lead going into the break.

Losing Matt Jackson to the sin-bin at the start of the second half, Sandbach were struggling to assert themselves on the game and fell further behind to a penalty that left them trailing by eight.

But a scintillating finale saw the hosts spark into life and go close to completing a superb comeback.

Good forward play led to Ben Elliott crashing over and converting his own try to drag Sandbach to within a point, but last-gasp drop goal attempts from Elliot drifted agonisingly wide.

For all their late pressure, Sandbach were unable to poke their noses in front, missing out on a win but picking up a losing bonus point.