4th XV
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| 4th XV | ||||
| Stockport's 4th XV play in the League 5 South of the Miller Homes Intermediate Leagues. As the season progresses we will try and post some photos and reports from their campaign | ||||
| Captain | Gary Kivell | (M) 07940 405 487 | ||
| Vice Captainin | Mike Whetter | (M) 07790 411 105 | ||
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Knutsford 2nd
XV Stockport Bulldogs LOST 29-17 |
BANG CRASH WALLOP (Part 2) Another tough assignment this week against the team second in the league, also unbeaten and having racked up over 200 points and only conceded 8 so far. The Bulldogs already seemed to have slotted back into the all too familiar away / home player availability cycle having to field 8 changes from the previous week’s home starting line-up. This included two sparkling senior debuts for colts Mike Pearson and Henry Simpson, in fact each gained three Man-of-the-Match votes. As with the previous week the Bulldogs started at a cracking pace and soon had the home side under pressure as their power front row re-enforced by Metz arriving in search of a game as the Vets game was called off (Arthur Bell and Dave Wilson adding options on the bench). In fact Metz was first on the score sheet when he trundled up to the loose and took the pop pass and crashed over from ten metres out. Not surprisingly Knutsford young fast backs were starting to cause problems in mid-field with their well executed set moves and links with the back row. The Bulldog defence was resolute with big try saving tackles being made by everyone. But then tragedy struck when one silly error resulted in a converted penalty before Knutsford grabbed the lead when the left winger slipped his man and beat the cover tackle to the corner. Gary Kivell was forced to leave the field with a recurrence of an old back injury and the scrums had to go uncontested thereby robbing the Bulldogs of their most potent weapon. As the clock ticked down to half time the home side were again under intense pressure as the Bulldog forwards pounded away at the line. Their efforts were rewarded when the fullback miscued his clearance kick to touch. Mike Whetter gathered the loose ball and set off on a port moment run that sliced through the defence. Five metres out he popped pass to Metz who bludgeoned his way to the line. At the turnaround the Bulldogs discovered to their horror the extent of the slope on the pitch. A slope the home side knew well and kicked tactically to continually repel Bulldog attacks. They racked up a well worked try from close support play before further stretching their lead following a vicious bounce of the ball. Had it bounced conventionally Tommy Burke would have cruised unopposed to the corner. As it was the defender was the lucky beneficiary and he interpassed with the winger all the way to the line despite the despairing tackle of Man-of-the-Match Rob North. Dave Wilson came on at scrum half with Gaz Llewelyn moving to the wing in place of Chris Holt. From the very next play Gaz was sandwiched tackled by two defenders and fell to the ground in agony. A trip to hospital in an ambulance and an X-ray revealed a broken bone in his shoulder. We all wish him a speedy recovery. Arthur Bell then came on at fullback with Mike Whetter moving to the wing. Knutsford also made two substitutions. However it was the Bulldogs who next seized the initiative when, from broken play, Mike Pearson gathered a hack on and rounded two defenders before wining a fifty metre plus sprint to the posts to give Arthur Bell the easiest of conversions. The final fifteen minutes saw some thrilling fast open rugby as both sides looked to add to their respective accounts. Both Gareth Phillips and Macca were outstanding in the loose during this phase as they turned over ball to keep the Bulldogs on the hunt. Burne-Jones drives from the base of the scrum and link with Dave Wilson continued to make good yards. But the with five minutes to go Knutsford stole the ball at the lineout and set up a driving maul before releasing their backs for one last surge to the line to seal a hard won victory. Post match Knutsford to a man were relieved to have preserved their unbeaten start to the season and praised the Bulldogs for giving them their hardest match of the season so far. Next up Wilmslow 3’s at home for the Bulldogs. |
Team
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13. Burke, 14. Holt, 15. Mike Whetter, 16. Woodcock, 17. Arthur Bell (C), 18. Dave Wilson
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Stockport Bulldogs Macclesfield 4th
XV LOST 8-27 |
BANG CRASH WALLOP (Part 1) They don’t come much harder than this, a game against unbeaten and top of the league Macclesfield. Over the years this has always been a tough but close game and this was no exception as both sides bludgeoned away at each other in a physical encounter with no quarter given. In the final analysis the youth and pace of the visitors had the edge over the experience and guile of the Bulldogs but not before the home side had put up one hell of a fight. In fact two late breakaway tries flattered to deceive. The game started at a frantic pace and never slowed, save for the over exhuberence of the referees whistle and the intervention of a much needed magic sponge. The Bulldogs drew first blood (not literally) when Macc were penalised thirty metres out for killing the ball in a ruck and Rob Riley claimed the three points. Both packs were evenly balanced, each winning a steady stream of possession for the equally matched backs. Rob Riley and Dave Bennett in midfield were an outstanding combination both in attack and defence. Lineout won on the visitor’s 22 and the ball was spun. Riley took out two men and popped the ball to Bennett who crashed forward commiting two defenders, he slipped the ball back and up popped Mike Whetter on the loop to scoop up the loose ball and slip over. The game mysteriously degenerated into a forward slog regularly punctuated by the whistle. It wasn’t bad tempers, skulduggery or illegal play causing the problems. The referee was excellent; it seemed to be more frustration on the part of both sets of players that somehow spilled over into basic errors. The Bulldog came off worse and their ill discipline punished by two quick tap penalty tries. All to play for in the second half with both sides making substitutions. The Bulldogs fell further behind to a well worked blind side move before turning the screw and applying constant pressure but a clever chip to the corner turned into disaster when a cruel bounce of the ball fell into the surprised hands of a defender and he sprinted the length of the field to touchdown. The Bulldogs continued to play for a win but the game looked beyond their reach when the visitors punished a momentary lapse in concentration at a lineout, stole the Bulldogs throw in and rolled the maul over the line. Again the Bulldogs drove forward before linking with the backs. Twice Tommy Burke was almost put clear but was pulled back fro a forward pass and a foot in touch. Then almost on the final whistle Macc won second phase in their 22 and from a miscued clearance kick, the ball bounced back towards the chasing winger and straight into his hands allowing him to streak clear to the corner. In the final analysis the visitors were just about worth their win but it was a case of so near yet so far for a Bulldog team that showed great character and resilience.
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Team:
Burke, |
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