AUSTRALIAN centre Stacey Hosking bid a fond farewell to Northwich Rugby Club on Saturday but his team-mates could not provide him with the perfect leaving present.
Visiting rivals Sandbach failed to read the script and escaped from Moss Farm with a 38-30 victory that saw them leapfrog Northwich in the table.
Hosking celebrated his final appearance for the Blacks by scoring a try and capped off two successful seasons for the club. He will now return to his home on the Gold Coast.
The Blacks had led 14-3 at one stage after winger Tom Bradfield scored an impressive try but they were not helped in their task when Chris James was sent off for a touchline altercation.
Fly half Matt Bebbington kept the hosts in touch with six penalties and a conversion but the South Cheshire visitors earned yet another win, living up to their label as Northwich’s bogey team.
Chairman Sam Naylor said: “Northwich yet again suffered at the hands of Sandbach to draw the curtains on a campaign that at one stage promised so much.
“The Northwich committee will now take stock, regroup and put measures in place to ensure that the Blacks hit the ground running in September.”
