One step away from perfection
STOCKPORT ................... 43 VALE OF LUNE ................ 0
SMIKE ATKINSON TOCKPORT have a real ‘cup final’ in store on 23 April, when they travel to Penrith needing a victory to complete the full set of 26 wins after a comprehensive defeat of visitors Vale of Lune at Headlands Road on Saturday.
The Vale of Lune players clapped the Stockport team onto the pitch in recognition of their winning the League, with the trophy presented after the game.
As we have come to expect this season this was a whole team victory, based on a strong forward performance and good running in the backs.
With such a well organised defence, Stockport controlled the game, even when Vale were in possession but the visitors did play some good rugby, with the backs running well when they had the ball. Despite some pressure in the Stockport 22 the visitors never looked like breaking the home defence and there were no kickable penalties conceded by Stockport.
There was a score after only two minutes as No 10 Tom Eaton kicked a 50/22 to give Stockport a line out five metres out and the catch and drive put hooker Sam Graham in for a try. With a difficult wind there was no conversion.
A second score came after a strong scrum on half way gave Stockport a penalty and another line out close to the visitors line. There were four phases and centre Setareki Talatoka crashed over for a try that Dudley Southern converted for 12-0 after 13 minutes.
There was a spell of play mostly between the two 22s before Vale had a scrum five metres from the Stockport line, which the home forwards won to clear.
It was 20 minutes before Stockport added to their score, with a good line out move flanker Ed Poulson made progress towards the line and his offload gave Talatoka his second under the posts, Southern converted.
In the final minute of the half a good attack had Eaton making a half break in the Vale 22 and full back Callum Owen was on had to run in the score, Southern converted for a half time lead of 26-0 and a bonus point.
With the wind in their favour for the second period, Vale put in some good kicks and much of the first 10 minutes was played in the Stockport half. However Stockport attacked from their own half, wing Jack Martin put in a kick, which was collected by Southern, who gave a return pass to Martin, the ball was then recycled and moved right and centre Nick Coupland beat the defenders with a dummy to run in and score for 31-0.
Just minutes later good continuity and control gave lock Cealin Mallon his second try of the season and it was 36-0 as the game went into the final quarter.
There was then pressure from Vale as they made a good break and kept the Stockport defence busy before a knock on allowed Stockport to clear.
Another great move, with forwards and backs supporting and linking well resulted in a penalty in the Vale 22, a tap was taken and a long pass put Poulson in unopposed and with Owen converting from wide out it was 43-0, with just over 10 minutes left.
Despite more Stockport pressure there was no further score.
Before the League trophy was awarded to skipper Rory Austin after the game, coach Tom Eaton reminded the players that with one game to go they should remember that lots of teams win championships but few have the chance to do it unbeaten, to ensure there is a good focus on the difficult final game away at Penrith on 23 April.
Emphasising the strength of the squad the second team also won convincingly with a 66-15 victory over Vale of Lune seconds.