SANDBACH are celebrating their first promotion in 15 years.

Buoyed by a coachload of travelling supporters, they clinched the second promotion spot in the South Lancs and Cheshire League Division Two with a little help from their neighbours.

Crewe and Nantwich's draw with Ruskin Park at Willaston made it impossible for Sandbach to be caught.

Club chairman Rob Mayor said: 'All involved in the success deserve our congratulations. The team proved how good they can be and I would like to thank all the squad members and backroom staff, with special mentions for captain Ray Jones, coach Alec Burton and chairman of rugby Chris Watson.'

Secretary Andy Maddock added: 'Everyone at the club is cock-a-hoop. The last time we were promoted was in 1989 when we went up to North Two.

'But now the club is thriving again and the team have done really well to gain promotion with three games to go.'

Nerves began to flutter as handling errors cost Sandbach four tries, but they took the

lead when Lee Pickles slipped the ball out to Tim Oakes, whose superb pass helped send Tim Jones over. Pickles converted.

The second score saw Chris Davenport - whose uncle Paddy captained Sandbach's last promotion team - push for the line. He was stopped short but Sami Dave picked up to feed skipper Ray Jones, who drove over from five-yards.

Ashton's 10-man game produced a disputed try but Sandbach responded in style with Dave, Tom Hughes and Rob Leese combining to send Andy Rollings in for their third try of the afternoon.

Vice-captain Chris Busby said: 'For the first time this season, I think nerves affected us, particularly among the forwards, but our travelling fans were fantastic. They really were our 16th man.

'I think we deserve promotion. We have only lost once since September and to go up with three games to go shows we are one of the top two teams.

'We are a young team and we're already looking forward to next year. We want to go unbeaten for the remainder of the season.'

Sandbach visit the only team above them, Hoylake, on Saturday knowing a win would keep their chances of winning the title alive.

Crewe and Nantwich 22 Ruskin Park 22:

Crewe's draw kept them in pole position to take third spot, a point ahead of Saturday's visitors with two games remaining.

Both teams agreed it was a fair outcome with Crewe's pack in the ascendency but Ruskin's speedy three quarters always looking dangerous with the ball in their hands.

Dan Potts, Tom Spowage and Don Ngatia all crossed the try-line for Crewe with play-er-coach Matt Farr adding two conversions and a penalty.

With the scores level at 22-22, both sides had opportunities to snatch victory with long-range penalties but all dropped short of the posts. It would have been hard on either side to lose to penalties.

The Seconds defeated Preston Grasshoppers 18-10 with tries from Stuart Banks, Tom Cockburn and Rob Latham, together with a Mike Parker penalty goal.

The Thirds drew 15-15 at Sandbach. This Saturday, Crewe's first team have a blank weekend.

Both the Seconds and Thirds have home games against Manchester Wanderers and Hoylake respectively (2pm).