The Cheshire side has plenty to play for – although they are now nine points ahead of Old Northamptonians in third relegation spot, they have yet to fully secure their National League 3 Midlands status for next season. They will also be keen, no doubt, to avenge the 10-31 defeat at Bradwell Road at the end of November.

Like their hosts, Sandbach have enjoyed a revival in fortunes since the turn of the year. They have won four of their last five games, with victories against Syston, Old Ns, Peterborough Lions and, most latterly, a 50-3 demolition of basement-boys Sutton Coldfield.

As well as Saturday’s game against Birmingham & Solihull, Sandbach also have fixtures against Bromsgrove, Hinckley and Lichfield in their end of season run in so every point is still vital in a league where form has often been tricky to predict.

Whilst giving due respect to their visitors, the Bees’ preparation for Saturday’s game will have likely to have concentrated on their own game plan. It is an approach which has worked well in recent months. The impressive 7-19 win away at Peterborough Lions a fortnight ago – against a team in fifth place in the league and one of the most physical sides in the division– was the latest scalp for a Bees side who has won six of their last seven games, rejuvenating their season in the process.

They will also be keen to replicate the kind of performance that delivered an emphatic win on a grey, rain-swept afternoon up in south Cheshire back in November.

That day, the then bottom of the table Bees ended a six match losing streak with a 10-31 win at Sandbach that was as impressive as it was comprehensive. Debutants Arron Wilson at inside centre and fly half Mitch McGahan both made significant individual contributions in that game, despite both “doing time” in the sin bin.

Sandbach got on the scoreboard first, with centre Elliot Morris nicking an interception try from a speculative pass from McGahan with 15 minutes on the clock. McGahan was soon to atone for his error, slotting a penalty just four minutes later and then it was the visitors’ turn to profit from an interception try from Alex O’Malley. McGahan’s boot was good again and the Bees were now ahead 3-10.

The pendulum was to seemingly swing back in the Cheshire sides’ favour with a Bodrill penalty after 30 minutes to level the scores, with the Bees then reduced to 13 men after yellow cards were shown to both Kiwi debutants in quick succession. Good scrummaging work kept the home side at bay however and with it the 10-10 score line intact at half time.

An early injury immediately after the break to Jack Jolly – only just on as a replacement – could have given Sandbach the opportunity to get on the front foot. But a committed and determined Bees’ side had other plans.

Progressively restored to a full complement of 15 men, the Bees put in a hugely impressive second half performance that lit up the gathering gloom. Patient work in the phases created space for the rested McGahan to use his strength and experience to stretch the lead to 10-17 with a self-converted try. With their tails now well and truly up, captain Chris Goddard was driven over from close range seven minutes later – well deserved reward for his and his engine room partner Matt Spink’s industry all afternoon.

The icing-on-the-cake bonus point was added when a penalty try was promptly awarded after another impressive shove by the Bees eight. McGahan’s conversion rounded off a 16-point personal haul and a highly impressive kicking performance given the conditions from both from the tee and hand.

Speaking in his programme notes ahead of this Saturday’s game, Dave Spencer (‘Spanner’) said; “We have again put lots of work in over the last two weeks, as we know Sandbach are an improving team, something that has been reflected in their recent results. However they are still in a tricky situation, needing points to avoid being around the dreaded bottom three at the end of the season.”

He added “For our part, we are still hungry for points. We too do not want to be having to play for survival in this league. We really want to carry on improving and developing to allow us to establish our league position, thereby putting ourselves in good order for next season’s campaign.”