It is only 2 weeks to the opening game in the club’s first journey into National League 2. On Saturday we had a chance to see some of the new riches that have arrived. First a quick word of the absentees. Craig Cooper has moved to Wilmslow with Hugo Corbett in charge there. On the injured list were Nick Smith and Jamie Anthony. Jan Erik Anderson, Dave Marwick and Andy Fuller were also unavailable.
The visitors opened brightly and laid siege to the Stockport line and may have taken the lead had this been a league fixture as they chose not to kick any of the numerous penalties they were awarded. Then suddenly Stockport broke loose and Captain for the day Tom Cruse galloped in for a try against the run of play.
This proved to be the first of 11 tries scored by Stockport with only 3 conceded. Bradford’s tries all came from forward pressure near to the line. The Stockport defence in the backs looked very effective.

We saw some very exciting and effective performances from a host of players and the competition for places will be intense. At least there will be more chances to play for the 1st and 2nd XV with 38 players being required each week to fill the two team sheets.
At the end of the afternoon the overall impression I was left with was that the forwards were energetic and effective and the backs looked to have had injection of pace and flair. Time will tell.
This Saturday a 1st XV squad travel to annual pre-season opponents Longton while the 2nd XV are at home v Caldy in the 1st round of the Cheshire Cup.