Stockport rescue 2 bonus points from being 36-3 down at Huddersfield.

Stockport travelled to Huddersfield YMCA to meet the team immediately below them in the table for what was really a must win game. They came across a very dominant Huddersfield pack and conceded a try in the opening few minutes of each half and found themselves 36-3 down with 20 minutes to go but 4 exciting tries and 3 conversions meant they came away with two bonus points and a positive feel about a game that could have been a very big win for the home side, the final score was 36-29.

Huddersfield were on the score board in the first 2 minutes as they outflanked the Stockport defence following a line out. Stockport were under real pressure at the scrum and a drive was well controlled by the No. 8 and he flipped it up to the scrum half, who had an easy score. The conversion made it 12-0 to the home side after only 15 minutes. Stockport won a penalty from a scrum near the home side line to get on the board with 3 points by Ashley Platt-Hughes. A 40 metre break by scrum half Sean Street gave Stockport a good position but at the 5 metre scrum Huddersfield took possession and the advantage was lost. Huddersfield were held up over the Stockport line but the referee awarded a penalty, which the Huddersfield scrum half took quickly to score a try, which he converted for a 19-3 lead. The Huddersfield scrum continued to dominate and Stockport prop Craig Anthony had to come off with a back injury. Huddersfield scored on the 3rd phase following a line out to make it 24-3 at half time.

Huddersfield scored straight from the kick off to make it 29-3 before Stockport had a good spell, making two good breaks but a pass to the opposition and a knock on meant they came to nothing. The Stockport backs started to really get into the game and strong runs by Hall, Sackville-West and Platt-Hughes gave a hint of what would come as the game opened up and was less dominated by scrums. The Huddersfield No. 10 was yellow carded before they were awarded a penalty try after a 10 metre drive by their scrum in the Stockport 22, this made it 36-3 and Stockport looked well beaten. As the game moved into the last 20 minutes Longmore scored for Stockport after a tap penalty was taken in the Huddersfield 22, Sackville-West passed to prop Longmore, who was out on the wing to score. With only 10 minutes to go Stockport started playing with real purpose, a drive from a line out allowed Mike Waddington to go the last 5 metres to score, the conversion was added and at 36-15 the score line was looking better for Stockport. More good handling by Stockport got Simon Green into the home 22 and his pass put wing Lewis Bowman in to score, Platt-Hughes added the conversion. Stockport were not finished, good passing set up Bowman with the ball in the home 22 and he ran cross field, beating all the Huddersfield tacklers to score. The final twist was a second chance at the conversion for Platt-Hughes as the Huddersfield players charged early. He kicked it this time to secure the losing bonus point to go with the try bonus with the score at 36-29.
Next week is a home game against Sheffield, kick off at 2.15.