DERBY day turned flat for Crewe and Nantwich RUFC as Sandbach snatched a 10-7 victory, last Saturday.

With both battling to beat the drop it was always likely to be a tense affair but Crewe started brightly although refused the option of an easy penalty and went for a try that the visitor's defence denied them.

Crewe applied most of the pressure during the first-half and constantly drove forward but they couldn't capitalise and lost ground giving away needless penalties.

After the break stalemate was broken as Mark Read hit a penalty to put Sandbach in control though Crewe followed up with the best move of the game as the ball was spun along the line for winger Stuart Van Wyk to score between the posts, making Simon Robertson's conversion a formality.

But the tables turned again as Richard Astles secured Sandbach victory with a well-taken try that Read converted.

Crewe travel to Newton-le-Willows, this Saturday.