A DUBIOUS penalty in the eighth minute of injury time robbed Sand-bach of maximum points at Hoylake on Saturday.

The Bradwall Road side saw the allotted 80 minutes come and go as they tried to hold on for victory at 15-12. But the referee felt there was plenty of action remaining and awarded the hosts a penalty and Steve Young's kick earned a share of the spoils.

It was tough on Sandbach after they looked the more accomplished side throughout.

The visitors went in front when Massey found space to coast through the Hoylake midfield and score under the posts. Lee Pickles added the extras.

Hoylake got back into the match as full-back Young chipped over the top and managed to run around Tom Hughes to touch down. He added the conversion himself to make it 7-7.

A well-taken penalty from Lee Pickles gave Sandbach a three-point lead at the break, and Hughes bundled the ball over the line after good work by Tim Jones after the restart. Pickles missed the conversion to leave it 15-7 ahead with 20 to go.

The visitors held firm but an un-characteristic knock-on allowed the Hoylake flanker Martin Williams to touch down.

The side was disappointed after the last gasp equaliser, and a spokesman said: `It was more a case of a point lost rather than a point gained.'

Meanwhile, a much-improved performance saw Sandbach seconds lose narrowly to top of the table visitors Blackburn.

Martin Beecher's men actually led 6-5 at the break. But a try from Richard Thomas, and two penalties from Andy Fyffe proved not enough, as they went down 17-11.

Sandbach thirds took their frustration out on Ormskirk, winning at a canter 37-7.

Tries from Geraint Pritchard (2), Dave Gibson (2), Paul Harvey and Andy Ennis were backed by two penalties and a brace of conversions from Mark Reed. The fourths lost 27-0 at Buxton.