Billingham v Sandal Match Report Provided by Sandal

After monopolising the early possession Sandal led through a penalty from fly half Greg Wood to open up a three point lead but for the following quarter it was all Billingham as they dominated proceedings. First a deft chip over the advancing Sandal defence by class centre Chris Hyndman saw impressive full back Evans take the ball in his stride before drawing the full back and putting centre Wilson in under the posts with Evans converting. Three minutes later and Evans went on a coruscating run from his own half which ended up with him crossing to the right of the posts for a top quality try which he then converted. Wilson then crossed for his second as the home side dominated the game with Evans again converting to give his side a twenty-one points to three lead. Sandal finally stemmed the tide as they began to maintain possession and go through the phases and after pressure in the home twenty-two a quickly taken penalty saw flanker Sean Maguire cross wide out with captain Wood converting. On the half hour the Milnthorpe Green side forced their way back further into the match with Dave Martin beating his opposite man on the outside to cross in the corner and then shortly after Martin gained his second from an offload by scrum half Joe Bedford to narrow the gap to six points at the break.

The second half saw Sandal control the majority of possession and territory but the home side were never out of the match and they increased their lead when they used an overlap down the blind side with winger Shepherd being put clear on the half way line before cutting inside the cover to cross to the left of the posts with Evans converting. Sandal responded when from a high box kick by Bedford, winger Gareth Newman lept to palm the ball back to fly half Wood who offloaded to man-of-the-match Martin who ran in unopposed from fifty metres for his hat-trick try. Sandal returned to the attack and from a lineout second row Tom Proctor was driven over by his fellow forwards with Wood converting to take a thirty two point to twenty eight lead. The visitors continued the pressure on the home line and from a five metre scrum winger Newman popped up to dive over to the right of the posts with Wood again converting. Billingham full back Evans kicked two late penalties to secure the losing as well as try bonus point which was the least that his side deserved in a thoroughly entertaining match.