(for Stockport Express)
After the 5th league game of the season, Stockport still have a 100% record and completed Saturday’s six try victory over Rossendale on Saturday with yet another bonus point. Most eye catching in this latest win was the return to 1st XV duty of full back Steve Pearson. Steve badly broke his ankle in the final game of the 2009-2010 exactly 21 weeks before. Following surgery he has under gone a text book rehabilitation and his man of the match impact in this game showed that he has lost none of his pace and strength.
Rossendale started the brighter and established an 0-8 lead within 8 minutes as they showed an ability to convert any opportunities into points. This stung Stockport into action and a finger tip pass from Pearson gave wing James a try in the corner. Stockport quickly added two more tries through prop Andy Fuller and Steve Pearson. 15-8.
Having established a lead, Stockport promptly set about losing it and despite having a man advantage for much of the following period, the next 20 minutes saw the lead turn into a 15-25 deficit by half time.
Stockport’s Nick Smith got the recovery underway with a bonus point try early in the 2nd half 20-25. Further progress was interrupted when flanker John Wilson was sin binned but when he returned Stockport re-gained their impetus and in the final quarter of the game they added two converted tries by wing Greg Newton and Tom Cruse without reply. Rossendale were just a try away from taking two bonus points and there was strong opinion that they were unlucky to leave empty handed from a game, during which they had contributed so much to make it a most entertaining rugby spectacle .
This Saturday the Stockport 1st XV travel to Rochdale. Kick Off 3.0pm