Opportunity Spurned

Two disrupted scrums on their own put in on either side of half time led directly to both the two Sandbach tries and in reply the Wolves spurned at least two golden try scoring opportunities in the same critical period, both of which they had created with their own play when the last pass went awry on both occasions. In a league as tight as this season’s North 1 West with little to choose between teams from top to bottom, matches will be lost if soft scores are conceded and opportuinities thrown away.

In the end, it came down to composure. The Sandbach sidefull of confidence had bucketfuls of it in a workmanlike performance, they made few errors on the ball, were solid in the set pieces and in No. 10 Will Cargill, they had a player clearly on top of his game. Five goals from six attempts says it all. And yet, for all their possession, they couldn’t create a try in the face of a tigerish defence throughout the whole eighty minutes. The Wolves had difficulties in scrum and lineout throughout and conceded twice as many penalties as the home side. Not being secure on their own ball and constantly infringing, just makes it impossible to put your opponents under any sustained pressure. You’re on the back foot the whole time.

The tone of the afternoon was set right from the kick off, when the Wolves forwards were penalised as they tried to get under Bob MacCallum’s teasing kick. It seemed a harsh decision but it enabled Cargill to thump his side into the Wolves twenty two. On the back foot immediately, the Wolves defended well but when they regained possession from a scrum, they promptly knocked on and were back on the defensive again. It was no surprise when Cargill opened his account after seven minutes of play.

A phase of scrappy play, going from end to end followed. Bob MacCallum had a testing thirty five yard kick against the breeze going narrowly wide, Wolves scrum half Chris Lee made a good break which on a better day would have led to something but the forwards were penalised at the ruck on the Sandbach line. Soon afterwards with two spare men on the left, a forward pass denied Wolves winger Tom Raynor. Sandbach constantly looked dangerous when they moved the ball wide and more than once had the Wolves scampering back for last gasp tackles.

Cargill then judged the prevailing wind well to land his second goal on twenty seven minutes. From the restart, the Wolves were up to steal the ball to set up another clear cut chance which went begging as the pass was delayed and the forwards penalised for ‘verbals’. Back came the Wolves for an attacking scrum in a good position just before halftime but they lost it and Cargill swung the ball right for the breakout and suddenly, there was Sandbach second row, Chris Davenport crashing over. Another Cargill penalty on the stroke of half time left the Wolves sixteen points adrift.

With the wind now in their favour, the Wolves needed a quick score to make a fight of it but all that happened was that full back Andy Walker took a bang on the knee and had to depart. Sean Street came on at scrum half, Chris Lee went back to the centre, Ricky Chadwick was moved to the right wing and Ben Day dropped back to fullback. James Keys came on for Ross Mitchell at No. 8 and for good measure Jack Walmsley replaced Chris Findlow in the front row. One injury, six changes. ‘Chaotique mais magnifique’, I think our Gallic friends from across the Channel would have said.

Sandbach dominated for the next twenty minutes or so and put the game beyond doubt when another poorly channelled heel went adrift for No. 7 Ali Burton to snatch the loose ball and run in for the decisive try.

To their credit, the Wolves refused to raise the white flag and eventually they ran in two late tries from Craig Cooper and Ben Day. A final frantic phase followed as the Wolves tried to salvage a losing bonus point, possession and chances swung from one side to the other before referee Godfrey called time.

The Wolves really only had themselves to blame. Coach Heagerty in his frustration cited indiscipline, carelessness and poor decision making. He could easily have added more. It was that old maestro of the 1970s, Rick Green, who put it all in some perspective. These Wolves, he said, are playing like a ‘nearly’ side but they do have the players to improve. Let’s hope he’s right.