Broughton Park 21pts v 6pts Sandbach

An eagerly awaited game, after an enforced two week lay off for Park, turned out to be a dour, frustrating game for the Park faithful. Sandbach, leading 6pts to 3 going into the last 10mins of official time, were eventually worn down and Park scored 18 unanswered points to secure the precious 2 league points to keep their promotion hopes on course.

Sandbach scored their points in the 1st half from 2 penalties and denied Park any clear cut chances with their pressure defence, which resulted in Park being unable to sustain any worth while possession or territory. The few chances Park did create were quickly squashed either by a resolute Sandbach defence or poor handling by the Park players. On the stroke of half time Park halved the arrears when Simon Verbickas kicked a penalty. By this time Park had substituted Latham Parry, who suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder, for Dave Rodgers.

The second half started brightly, the floodlights were switched on, but the play remained the same. However it was now becoming obvious that Park were beginning to shake off the lethargy of a 2 week break and began to put together some phases of play. Mark Poole, catching the ball in two hands, led the revival with some typical surges upfield. His efforts galvanised the Park forwards and with Geoff Kellaway, replacing Tom Kellaway, the Park front row began to force the Sandbach pack backwards.

Sandbach were holding on but were conceding ground as well as penalties and the referee helped Parks cause when he yellow carded the Sandbach second row for repeated offences with 10mins of official time left of the match. Within 2 minutes Park had taken the lead as Verbickas converted 2 penalties. The lead was further extended in the 80th min. as a move by the Sandbach backs broke down on the halfway line and the ball was hacked on towards the Sandbach line. With both Verbickas and Mapp claiming the score the game was now safely won. Verbickas converted the try to make the score 16 - 6 in Parks favour.

The final play of the game resulted in Dave Rodgers touching down after the ball had squirted free from a scrum on the Sandbach line. The score of 21 - 6 may have flattered Park but their is no denying that once Park get on the front foot and string phases of play together they do look a good team with a realistic chance of promotion. Their promotion chances were further helped as league leaders Leigh had been beaten. Wilmslow, currently in second place, had only just won, converting a penalty in the final minute and so as we approach Christmas and the New Year, Park are ideally placed to sustain a concerted drive for promotion.

Next week's league game is away to bottom of the table Warrington, but as with all teams in the league, Warrington are quite capable of beating anyone and Park will have to be at their best to win the game.

(The referee decided that Simon Verbickas had touched down for the first try much to the dismay of Tom Mapp.)