Old rivals deliver on promise of tight tie
STOCKPORT versus Altrincham Kersal has always been a close fixture and with Stockport having won by just one point at Headlands Road earlier in the season a tight game was expected and we certainly had one, with the final result a 22-22 draw.
Both sides played well in both attack and defence but the defining aspect of this match was the 27 penalties awarded by the referee.
With Stockport only conceding one kickable penalty and opting to put seven kickable penalties to touch in search of tries, succeeding with just three it was the home side’s four tries that kept them in the game.
Stockport dominated much of the territory in the first half but overall possession and territory were evenly shared.
With the game entering the last two minutes an option to go for touch, seeking a bonus point try, rather than take three points meant Stockport had to settle for a draw as AK defended the line out drive.
Other results in the division, some unexpected, means that despite being in seventh place Stockport are only eight points behind leaders Burnage.
The first half started with an attack by AK but a turnover won by back row Simon Green and his run to half way got Stockport onto the front foot and a good spell in the AK 22 ended with a penalty converted by Tom Eaton, to give the visitors an early lead.
AK responded straight from the kick off and after several good phases scored a try out on the right but were unable to convert to make it 5-3. It was Stockport that dominated the subsequent play but a good attacking line out was turned over and a break down the touchline by the AK hooker and his inside pass gave the home side a second try to go 10-3 ahead.
It looked like they were going to get a third try before half time but good Stockport defence won a penalty and Stockport cleared. The half ended at 10-3.
Early in the second half more good running by Green resulted in a penalty to Stockport and from the line out a well controlled drive gave No 8 Ryan Hanson the first of his two tries, Eaton was on target to draw level at 10-10.
A Stockport kick ahead gave the AK wing a chance to run and as he kicked into space Stockport full back Callum Owen was unlucky to catch him late and earned a yellow card. From the following line out AK made a good drive and scored a third try, again unconverted to put the home side 15-10 ahead.
The AK left wing earned a yellow card for a high tackle and opting again for the kick to touch the drive gave Hanson his second try.
With Altrincham Kersal conceding a stream of penalties, Stockport had another chance to kick to touch and another well controlled drive gave flanker Richard Sackville-West a try, which Eaton converted from wide out to give the visitors the lead at 15-22 as the final quarter began.
Into the last 10 minutes and yet another line out drive resulted in a try, this time for AK and finally their kicker converted to draw level at 22-22.
With just two minutes to go the quest for a bonus point try ended fruitless and the final result was a draw.
Next week is a home game against Warrington kick off at 3pm.