‘Port hit form at Headlands
STOCKPORT hosted Blackburn at Headlands Road and turned in their most complete 80 minutes of the season.
Following last week’s disappointment at Burnage, Stockport came out firing on all cylinders.
Winning a penalty after only four minutes the game was held up by an injury to Stockport No 8 Nic Smith, causing the game to be moved to another pitch as an ambulance was required.
With centre Arron Perry making his debut and having a major impact with his strong running and pace Stockport got into an early lead and finished with four tries for a bonus point to go along with four penalties and three conversions by Liam McGovern.
This was a good all around performance by Stockport with forwards and backs running and linking well and some good defence needed to restrict a very determined Blackburn side, who scored three tries of their own for a 38-17 full time score.
With the early penalty being kicked on the new pitch, Stockport were soon on the attack again and Perry made a strong run from half way, into the Blackburn 22, lock Dan Brotherton was on hand to run in the try despite attention from Blackburn’s defenders.
After Stockport had turned over a good Blackburn attack the visitors went through the phases from a line out and a long pass put their right wing in for a try wide out for 10-5.
Good recycling by Stockport on the halfway gave Tom Eaton the chance to give a long pass to Perry, who made another impressive run to clear the way for a scoring pass to wing Richard Sackville-West to make it 15-5 at the end of the first quarter.
There was another try on 30 minutes after some great interplay by forwards and backs, a powerful run towards the line by prop Jordan Pearson and in the subsequent drive captain Kieran Hibbs got the touchdown, McGovern was on target for 22-5.
After turning over another good Blackburn attack, Stockport made ground and got a penalty for offside at a scrum and McGovern put over the penalty for 25-5 at half time.
After only six minutes of the second half, Stockport had a ruck 15 metres out from the Blackburn line and scrum half Rory Austin dummied and ran in to score and it was 32-5.
After a good spell by Blackburn, Stockport eventually missed a tackle and the visitors got their second try for 32-12 as the game entered the final quarter.
The home side added another penalty before Blackburn moved the ball with very quick hands to give their left wing a try with five minutes to go. McGovern added another penalty before Blackburn, knocked on over the line with the last play of the game so there was no bonus point for the visitors and Stockport had an impressive 38-17 victory.
Next week is away at Birkenhead Park, who are also on 25 points just below Stockport in the table.