The honours were shared between the two clubs last season with both winning at home so a good contest was expected. Both sides started tentatively but when Burton stole a lineout in the Sandbach 22 they drove towards the line and were awarded a penalty for an offence at the breakdown. Will Simpson kicked the goal to open the scoring for the home team.

Simpson missed a second penalty attempt and then it was the visitors turn to get a penalty. This gave them a lineout on the five-metre line, from which they drove over the goal line to score the first try. The conversion was missed.

This boosted the visitor’s confidence and they almost scored a few minutes later but were penalised for playing the ball on the ground. Burton were able to clear their lines. It was then Burton’s turn to go on the attack but as they seemed to be getting nowhere fly half Harry Titley put up a high kick. The Sandbach defence failed to deal with it and flanker Lewis Sturgess gathered the ball and ran from just outside the 22 to score under the posts. Simpson added the extra points.

The home team were soon on the score sheet again. Winger Nick Oxley received the ball in his own half and made a great run into the Sandbach 22. When he was tackled the ball was recycled quickly and passed along the backs to the other winger T J Clarke to score in the corner on his club debut. The conversion was missed. The visitors kicked another penalty goal just before the end of the half so the half time score was 15-8.

Whatever was said at half time worked wonders as Burton scored straight from the restart. Hooker James Davies made a break and passed to Lock Joe Gazzard, who charged towards the line and found scrum half Chaz Bunting in support to score under the posts. Simpson converted.
He then kicked another penalty goal before Burton came under attack themselves. Jack Neal was sent to the sin bin for an offence at the break down and the visitors chose a scrum instead of a penalty kick. Burton were then penalised three more times for front row offences with prop Tahriq Allen also being sent to the sin bin. Eventually the referee’s patience ran out and he awarded a penalty try.

Sandbach were back in the game but at this stage the home side were not too worried and from the kick off they got into the Sandbach 22 and stretched their lead with another penalty goal from Simpson. However, they were still a man short and lost the ball in the next scrum and were unable to prevent the visitors from scoring. The try was converted from the touch line to bring the visitors back in contention at 28-22.

Simpson then added another penalty goal after which there was good work by the forwards and a great break by Bunting resulting in a try for centre Josh Kent, which was again converted.

After more strong running by the Burton forwards the ball was passed to winger Jamie Dutton, substituting for Clarke, to score in the corner. The conversion was missed.

Sides at this level never give up and when a kick from Burton went straight to the Sandbach fullback they ran the ball back and scored. The conversion was missed.

Burton were then holding on for dear life but were unable to prevent the visitors scoring a further two tries. The second of these tries was converted with the last kick of the game so the final score was Burton 43 Sandbach 39.

An exciting game with an action packed second half but it is to be hoped that Burton do not regret the 2 bonus points they conceded at the end of the season.