It was a weekend of re-arranged games in Stockport’s League on Saturday and it brought visitors to Headlands Road in the form of mid-table Darlington Mowden Park. The exchanges went to the visitors as the made clever use of the blind side on the right touchline. This brought their flying winger and soldier, Ben Seru, into play. It was his try that opened the scoring and with the conversion Darlington lead by 7 points in the 6th minute.
All the play up to this point had been in Stockport’s half with the home side putting together a lot of phases of play without making too much progress up field.
In the 9th minute one of Stockport’s first excursions into Darlington territory immediately bore fruit. Josh Cammiss drove forwards from a free kick 10 metres out and Captain Dave Marwick picked up the recycled ball and dived in to score. Matt Bebbington added the conversion 7-7.
Kicking possession away is a popular tactical question in rugby circles currently and when in the 25th minute Matt Bebbington elected to kick the ball out around the visitor’s 22 with some support outside him, he might have re-opened the debate. However, such was Stockport disruption of the ensuing lineout that they were awarded a scrum.
The ball was won Paul Ralph made significant progress towards the posts and was just stopped short. Dave Marwick was on hand for the second drive for the line and he cleverly twisted himself over the line. 14-7.
Stockport were still coming to terms with the Darlington right wing attack when within 5 minutes Ben Seru had bagged his 2nd on the day and brought the half time score to 14-14.
The 2nd half belonged to Stockport. Other than the occasional unforced error they dominated the game especially in the forwards. Stockport had lost full back Steve Pearson with an arm injury but the re-organised team then manufactured their try of the season. The ball was turned over in the Stockport 22. It was then moved at pace through 8 player’s hands until back row Reuben Harvey received an off load 12 metres in front of the Darlington posts. 21-14.
Stockport then secured the try bonus point when they pressured the visitor’s line before passing the ball right to James Drew who cleverly off loaded to Gareth Evans. 28-14.
Darlington showed true determination to strike back one last time with a try 28-19 but it proved to be the false dawn of a fight back as it was the home side who finished off on the front foot with a 5th try through flanker Tim Oakes. 33-19.