NORTHWICH RUFC ended 2025 with a narrow defeat in an epic battle at high-flying Sandbach on Saturday.
Although both sides were guilty of some basic errors it was an intriguing contest played at a breakneck pace, with the second-placed hosts running out 32-27 victors in Regional 2 North West.
Skipper Rory Leijdekkers returned to the side along with Tom Husbands and marked his man-of-the-match performance with two tries, both coming after the break as Northwich fought back from their 29-10 half-time deficit.
Northwich, who were missing Thansville Mayman, Tshipane Mthembu and Tim Balogun, were behind from a penalty goal within five minutes.
Alex Speakman levelled matters with a penalty but parity was short-lived when a penalty to Sandbach resulted in an attacking lineout that was driven for a converted try.
This was followed eight minutes later by an almost identical situation, an attacking lineout being driven for the home scrum-half to peel away and score.
Blacks responded when they turned over a Sandbach scrum and Damola Ayanlaja-Lowo picked up to feed Toby Moss who crossed.
No sooner had the visitors got back into the game that they conceded two further tries before the half ended, the first due to some uncharacteristic sloppy defending and the second from yet another driven lineout.
With a mountain to climb in the second half, Blacks responded with an attacking lineout of their own and the subsequent maul was well controlled for Leijdekkers to score and Speakman to convert.
Northwich stepped up their game and on the 50th minute a quick tapped penalty saw stand-in scrum-half Hurjo Besuidenhout score a neat try.
Ten minutes later a Sandbach penalty settled the home side nerves as they restored a 10-point lead with 15 minutes remaining.
With the 80 minutes almost up Northwich kicked a penalty for an attacking lineout and once secure produced a devastating drive that was finished off by Leijdekkers.
Blacks, who sit eighth in the table, return to action at home to Altrincham Kersal on January 10, kick-off 2.15pm.
