Defence on top at Stelfox Road
WITH the second XV having completed an impressive 33-24 home win against the Altrincham Kersal 2nds on Friday evening (Try scorers Shaw, Hibbs, Metcalfe and Burr), the 1st XV went to Stelfox Road to play the AK 1sts on Saturday.
In a game dominated by pouring rain and too many penalties by both sides Stockport ran out 0-18 winners.
In a very hard, physical game it was the excellent Stockport defence that proved the winning factor.
Restricting AK to only one serious visit to their 22 Stockport’s tackling was very good, while the whole team played their part, mention must be made of hooker Dom Sherratt, whose tackle count was very high. With tries from Cealin Mallon and Dudley Southern, who also kicked a penalty and a conversion and penalty by Euan Holt this was a very good win.
Several first choice players were absent and those stepping up all made significant contributions, it is very unusual to come away from Stelfox Road having prevented the home side from getting on the scoreboard.
Played over four quarters and with possession probably about equal Stockport made the most of their first visit to the AK 22 with a try from a well worked line out by Mallon, this was the only score of the first quarter, despite a telling break by Tom Eaton setting up a good position.
Altrincham Kersal started the second quarter strongly and a sustained attack which took them close to the Stockport line was turned aver and skipper Rory Austin made a break from behind his own line into the AK half.
A penalty was conceded by the home side and Southern kicked the goal for a 0-8 lead by the visitors at half time.
The third quarter was played mostly in the Altrincham Kersal half, with the home side conceding a stream of penalties, Holt hit the posts with a shot at goal and Stockport did not manage to convert a number of scoring opportunities as they pressurised the home line.
The final quarter included another good break by Austin, resulting in a penalty award, which Holt converted to make it 0-11.
A good break by Nick Coupland and a chase by Ben Turner allowed the forwards to drive for the line and Southern darted over from the ruck, Holt converted to complete the scoring at 0-18.