STOCKPORT SHOW NO MERCY

Playing their first home game since mid-December Stockport followed up their creditable performance against top of the league Westoe with a convincing win against Darlington. The final score of 55-10 was a true reflection of Stockport’s superiority and it could have been an even greater margin. As both backs and forwards linked well and moved the ball crisply, scrum half Andy Rimmer provided an excellent link getting the ball away quickly from breakdowns.
The first score came after only two minutes when after a good passing move centre Craig Cooper took on the fullback and gave a scoring pass to James Drew. After 10 minutes No. 8 Peter Bredenkamp took a lineout and spotted a gap in the Darlington defence, he made ground to the line and Hooley picked up to make another 5metres before second row Chenoweth scored his first try for the club. Cruse converted to make it 12-0. The third try followed quickly with a kick ahead by Rees setting up a line out Stockport lost possession at the lineout but as Darlington won the scrum scrum Half Andy Rimmer was quick on the loose ball and touched down for another unconverted try. Try number four was a touchdown by Cruse under the posts after a good drive by the scrum. Cruse converted his own try to give Stockport a 24 point lead after as many minutes. Darlington got a touchdown after a couple of missed tackles let their wing in wide out. But it was Stockport with the final try of the half after a great break from his own half by Drew, prop Cruse showed great pace to take the ball almost to the line and give Cooper a scoring pass, Cruse converted to give the home side a 31-5 half-time lead.
Darlington never gave up but Stockport were far too strong with a try for skipper Marwick after Stockport pushed Darlington off their own scrum, another Cruse conversion made it 38-5. From the kick off Stockport tried to run the ball out but lost possession and the Darlington left wing got his second try, breaking though an unconvincing tackle. Stockport took advantage of a Darlington knock-on and centre Newton made ground and the ball reached replacement hooker Hammonds via Steve Pearson for a try near the touchline (43-10). Jan Anderson was tackled just short of the line after a great break by Rees supported by Marwick but a try for Steve Pearson followed from a handling movement started in the Stockport 22, many were involved but Rees and Berkamp made good ground before Marwick changed the direction with a long pass to allow Drew and Newton to put Pearson in on the left. Cruse converted for the half century. The final score came just before full-time with Rimmer making a blind side break and kicking ahead for Darlington to concede a 5m scrum, which Stockport won and moved the ball to Pearson, who kept the ball alive for Marwick to force his way over for a final score of 55-10.
There is no game for Stockport net week so the next target is an away win at Cleckheaton on 14 February.