Sandbach 13, Aspull 0: SANDBACH banished memories of last week's disappointing result thanks to a one-man show from Lee Pickles.
Lucky Lee returned from holiday and made the difference as he bagged all 13 points for his side. Skipper Tim Oakes rang the changes after the thrashing by Wilmslow, and it proved a master stroke.
A new formation was tried with Tom Hughes at Number Nine and Pickles at 10. It took time for them to combine well but it fell into place in the second half against Aspull.
A brilliant break from Dan Massey down the left wing in the first minute showed the Bradwall Road side meant business, but he elected to unsuccessfully go it alone rather than feed Nick Jerman for a certain score. Missed chances were the theme of the first half which ended with the score at 0-0.
After the break Sandbach went on the attack and the Aspull back-line parted to allow Pickles to stroll under the posts untouched. He converted his own try.
Both teams missed penalties, before Pickles rediscovered his direction and kicked a couple before the end of the game. A team spokesman said:
`There is still someway to go to reach the levels achieved last season. But once this team starts to play as a unit the points will flow and the performance levels will rise.'
Sandbach seconds were hammered 48-0 at Widnes.
Skipper Martin Beecher said: 'We only had the bare 15 and had key players missing, but we definitely have plenty to work on.'
The thirds saw their game cancelled, while the fourths lost 17-10 to Didsbury Toc.
Sandbach U11s started the new season in magnificent form by retaining the Stockport Festival. The team scored 100 points without reply in the round-robin competition with Stockport, Altrincham Kersal, Lymm, Winnington Park, and Broughton Park.
