STOCKPORT GUILTY OF TOO MANY ERRORS

Stockport played host to Westoe on Saturday. They scored four tries but showed a defensive fragility that will concern coach Tim Burgon. They were guilty of too many unforced errors to mount a sustained challenge in the game.

With an echo of their previous game at West Park things could have started so well. As early as the first minute Stockport came very close to scoring, but the move finally ran out of impetus to the right as too much of their attacking edge were committed to the first thrust at the line on the left.

Westoe came on the offensive and Stockport showed a degree of adventure as they broke from their own 22 having stolen the ball. Just as they seemed in control scrum, half Mike had a rush of blood 20 metres from his own line. He turned and passed straight to the Westoe wing. Willie Moala didn’t need a second invitation and touched down under the posts. The try was converted by the Westoe fly half, Sam Rasch, who would be a thorn in Stockport’s side throughout the game and not just with his kicking.

Within another five minutes the Westoe lead and Willie Moala’s try count had both doubled. It came from a sustained attack that saw the right wing cross the line wide on the right by the as Stockport ran out of defenders out. 0-14

It wasn’t until the final minute of the half that Stockport found a break though. Centre James Dalton made a clean break and found full back James Drew, in support on his left and the pass was well timed with the full back to beat and Drew finished off the try. 5-14 at half time.

Just as Stockport needed to get a good start to the 2nd half it was the visitors who seized the game and within 2 minutes of the restart they had driven over for a try through their forwards. 5-19. They added a further penalty minutes later (6-22) and the Stockport’s front row had also suffered two injuries which resulted in uncontested scrums for the rest of the game.

After 15 minutes Stockport’s Mike Raven intercepted a pass and ran more than half the length of the field to touch down. No conversion but a glint of light. 10-22. Unfortunately it was a light that was effectively snuffed out as Westoe upped their game and capitalised on possession. Their speedy flanker Jonathan Okwe- Pearson ran blind following a lineout and brushed away four tackles before crossing the line. 10-29.

Mike Raven scored his second of the day as he went blind from a scrum 5 metres out . With the conversion the deficit was down to 17-29. This merely seemed to serve as a wake up call to Westoe and they scored again through their back row Kerry Wood. 17-34. It looked as though Willie Moala was going to pick up his hattrick but he was forced and wide and threw a looping ball inside to find full back John McFarlane in support. 17-41

The final try came as a result of a bizarre penalty awarded against Westoe when one of their players penalised for running into touch with the ball…..which the referee later admitted was an error. Nevertheless Stockport took a quick penalty and Craig Cooper scored a consolation try which was converted and brought the game to an end. 24-41

Stockport make the trip to Darlington the coming Saturday anxious to get back to winning ways.

(Many Thanks to Phil Haswell from Westoe for allowing us to use his wondeful photographs)