Clinical ‘Port see off Douglas
STOCKPORT edged a bonus point win against visitors Douglas with a 26-25 victory, the win coming courtesy of Stockport’s well organised rolling maul and two penalty tries.
Douglas were arguably the better side for most of the game, dominating possession and maintaining some good continuity.
After 25 minutes the visitors were 17-0 up and it looked like a tough afternoon in store for Stockport.
However the effectiveness of the maul and some determined defence in the final five minutes ensured Stockport got through to remain second in the table.
Stockport started well, winning an early penalty but the line out throw five metres out went long, the first of several missed opportunities before the line out started working as it should.
A good Stockport attack moved the ball to the left but as a pass went to ground Douglas hacked on and the fly half followed up to kick on again and the Stockport defence were unable to match the pace as the fullback got the touch down for a try converted by the scrum half.
Stockport were unable to maintain any continuity and pressure from Douglas gave them a penalty for hands in a ruck, which the scrum half converted to give the visitors a 10 point lead after 20 minutes.
The home side were unable to sustain any pressure in the Douglas half and despite a long clearance by Tom Eaton, Douglas went through many phases maintaining their accuracy until the pressure told and their No 5 got the touch down in a drive over the line, the conversion gave them a 17-0 lead.
A good scrum by Stockport gave them a penalty in the Douglas 22 and the very good line out drive gave flanker Andy McFadden a try, which Eaton converted for 7-17.
The weather was very bad with a cross pitch wind and driving rain so there was a lot of kicking by both sides.
A 30 metre drive by the home forwards resulted in a penalty and yellow card for the Douglas No 6 and another drive resulted in a warning to Douglas by the referee. Stockport opted for a scrum, which was well controlled and a penalty try and a yellow card for the visitor’s prop got Stockport back to 14-17 at the break.
Despite having two simultaneous yellow cards at the start of the second half Douglas still dominated the third quarter, just missing a penalty shot in the Stockport 22. Stockport then started to exert some pressure. A penalty for not rolling away took them to 15 metres out and another for collapsing the maul gave Douglas another yellow card and Stockport a chance to drive from a five metre line out and hooker Andy Broadhurst got the try, with the wind preventing the conversion Stockport were 19-17 ahead.
Douglas replied immediately with a good break from 30 metres by their scrum half, who beat the Stockport defence to score an unconverted try to go ahead at 19-22.
Some good phases by Douglas and some poor tackling by Stockport kept the visitors on the front foot and they added a penalty for 25-19 as the match entered the last 15 minutes.
There were some nervy moments as Stockport tried to run out of defence.
It was the maul, which resulted in a series of penalties to Stockport that set up a position in the Douglas 22 and as Douglas were unable to defend the drive they collapsed the maul under the posts and conceded a penalty try to give Stockport the winning points.
Next week is an away fixture against league leaders Vale of Lune.