Reserve team puts on spirited performance at League Leaders.

Stockport travelled to Sheffield for this postponed fixture against League leaders Sheffield Tigers with what was very much a reserve team. However the first half gave no hint of how many first choice players were missing as the Stockport players surprised Tigers with great determination and 3 excellent tries to be just behind 19-24 at half time. Tigers are not league leaders for nothing and their high quality passing and support running together with a very strong wind in their favour were just too much for Stockport to cope with in the second half and they racked up another 40 points to win 64-19. Despite the scoreline every Stockport player deserves real credit for their effort against such high quality opposition. With all teams having played 22 games Stockport remain in 10th place 3 points ahead of nearest rivals Cleckheaton.

Tigers were first on the score board with good inter-passing and offloading to create a try for their full back, which was converted.Stockport then spent 10 minutes in the Tigers 22, with good play by the forwards, picking and driving. A great run by Stockport’s man of the match Mike Waddington set up a scrum, which Stockport controlled well and prop Ollie Longmore was driven over for the try to make it 5-7. Tigers replied with another good backs move to score an unconverted try to go back into the lead. Stockport got back into the home 22 and opted for a scrum when the Tigers 9 was yellow carded for holding on in the tackle. Waddington led a good drive by the forwards and again the pick and drive tied in the Tigers defence and the ball came left via Smith and Duffy to release veteran wing Nick Wroe to score under the posts, George Smith converted. From the kick off great running by Duffy and Wilson and good support play by the forwards gave flanker Jonathan Curry a try, Smith added the conversion to give the visitors a 19-12 lead. On the stroke of half time Tigers moved the ball wide and Stockport ran out of tacklers as the wing had an easy run in to make it 19-17. From the kick off a break by Tigers was halted with a great tackle by Waddington but the recycled ball again allowed Tigers to outflank the defence and go in 24-19 ahead at half time.

The second half was tough for Stockport as the strong wind gave them no opportunity to kick to relieve the immense pressure put on by Tigers. Spending the whole of the second period in their own 22, apart from one break out, meant that despite Stockport’s determination the home side were able to run in 6 more tries and kick two penalties for the final score of 64-19.

Next week is a tough away game at Lymm before a home fixture against second placed Wirral and two away games against bottom teams Burgage and Birkenhead to finish the season. The home game against Wirral will celebrate the Intermediate cup win at Twickenham 10 years ago with a reunion lunch for the team on that day.