CAPTAIN Ray Jones says his side are finally playing to their capabilities after they sent Isle of Man side Vagabonds packing.

The win was as convincing as it appears and Jones is now calling for his team to remain unbeaten for the rest of the season as they ease away from relegation danger.

Sandbach are now fifth from bottom of the Euromanx South Lancs/Cheshire League Division One and Saturday's win brought them to within two points of the next side up - Vagabonds.

The skipper said: 'It was a comfortable win and we played some good rugby. We started well and dominated from there. Some extra training sessions have paid off and our phase play worked well and the rucking was good.

'Our forwards were excellent in the scrummage and their form meant the backs didn't have to fire on all cylinders.

We have Broughton Park next week, who beat us easily earlier in the season. It will be a good test of how far we have come on. I think we should be looking to go unbeaten for the rest of the season and build up a head of steam.'

Dan Massey opened the scoring in the first two minutes after good work from Tim Jones and Tom Hughes. Massey added a second later on, and a pair of conversions and penalties

from Andy Rollings, and a drop-goal from Hughes, made it 23-3. nSandbach seconds enjoyed a resounding 45-10 win at Southport on Saturday.

Sandbach were trailing when two Martin Beecher tries, in the 34th and 40th minute, changed the game. In the second half, Nick Jerman scored after a breathtaking run and Neil Day crashed over after a front row effort.

Mike Egglestone and Scott Hollins got their names on the scoresheet and, although the home side were relentless in their efforts and did reduce the deficit, Day's second made it safe. Chris Greenhalgh kicked five conversions. nSandbach thirds scraped a 20-20 draw at Bowdon.

The visitors were initially frustrated in their efforts to score, but winger Dan Adams, captain Richard Pickford, Andy Maddock and Colin Stent combined to feed Mark Read who shrugged off two tackles to bounce over the line.

The home side had gone into a commanding lead, but were reduced to 13 men, and Adams capitalised by crossing the line in the left corner.

Bowden took the lead again, but Andy Pipe levelled the score after a determined run and earned a point for his side. The thirds have been drawn at home to Heaton Moor seconds in the Halbro Plate fourth round, on February 12. * Sandbach U15s won their Cheshire Cup quarter-final 27-0 over Caldy, thanks to tries from Adam Colvin, Bryn Sutcliffe, Adam Wakefield, James Gaskell and Matt Smith. * Sandbach U14s succumbed to a strong Chester side, exiting the Cheshire Cup at the quarter-final stage 19-13. Points were earned through a Ben Trump penalty and tries from Chris Bailey and Tom Chambers. * Sandbach U12s destroyed Mold U12s 40-0, while the U10s dispatched Mold U10s 30-0.