STOCKPORT RUFC V CLECKHEATON SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2015.

Despite still being well below full strength due to injuries, Stockport secured their first win since the end of September, when they returned from Cleckheaton on Saturday, with a 19-14 victory.
With bad weather forecast and the home side’s reputation for a forward based based game well known it was essential that Stockport got off to a good start based their fast paced passing game. That is just what they did when young flanker Jordan Simpson scored his first try for the first team. This established a lead that was never relinquished. The weather conditions were not good for kicking and both sides failed to secure points that seemed to be on offer. But it was good kicking from hand by Stockport’s fly half, Jonny Edwards that allowed Stockport to manage the second half well, keeping Cleckheaton in their own half for much of the period.
Simpson’s try came after only five minutes, he followed a kick ahead and took the bouncing ball at pace, racing in from 40 metres to beat the home defence and score under the posts. Ashley Platt-Hughes kicked the conversion. It was only 10 minutes later when a strong run by captain Simon Green set up a ruck in the Cleckheaton 22 and Sean Street sent the quickly recycled ball to the right for centre Callum McMahon to score, there was no conversion but the 12 point lead was a good cushion. The Stockport scrum was under pressure in the set and after some pressure on the Stockport line, which was defended well, Cleckheaton secured a penalty at a scrum and it was quickly taken and moved wide to their left for the wing to run in, the conversion made it 12-7 to Stockport. After an excellent clearing kick by Edwards, Stockport finished the half positively with some pressure in the home 22.
Stockport started the second half well with some good kicking to establish position, they won a scrum 5 metres out and following Simon Green’s pick up the forward drive took Ben Marsland over to score, Platt-Hughes added the conversion for 19-7. After issuing two yellow cards, one for each team following a mass bust up at a ruck, the referee injured his ankle and the remainder of the game looked in doubt at about 60 minutes but the physios patched him up. Stockport had more opportunity when Myles Hall was nearly in for a try and a penalty opportunity was just wide. But just before the final whistle, Cleckheaton were driving over the Stockport line and the referee awarded them a penalty try for the home side to secure a bonus point.
At last a victory to offer real encouragement before our home game against local rivals Lymm next week.