Stockport secure a bonus point that maintains their league position

Stockport came up against a much bigger and more powerful opposition as visitors and close rivals Cleckheaton secured a 22-17 win over their hosts. The heroics of last week’s effort by the Stockport pack was not to be repeated as Cleckheaton proved to be more decisive and direct and more effective at the breakdown than Stockport. But with two converted tries and a penalty Stockport secured a bonus point that maintains their league position 3 points ahead of their visitors. The match was preceded by a lunch to commemorate the four Davenport players who lost their lives in the air crash following the England - France international in 1974.

The power of the Cleckheaton pack was demonstrated as they drove over from a line out following a penalty on only 5 minutes, the try was converted to give the visitors a 7-0 lead. Stockport responded with some good attacking play and after some good pressure a penalty and line out gave a try to Ollie Longmore with Stockport driving over. Mark Edwards landed the conversion to make it level at 7-7 after 20 minutes. Cleckheaton responded immediately with a high quality backs move that created space for their powerful number 13 to run in and score under the posts and give the visitors a 7-14 lead. Stockport were under pressure in the scrum and conceded several penalties in trying to keep Cleckheaton at bay and from one of these penalties the visitors repeated their line out drive for another try to make it 7-19 at half time.

Stockport started the second half well with a telling break by wing Joe Cantwell, it looked like he would score but the Cleckheaton defender stopped him a metre or two out, the ball was taken on and Craig Anthony was held up short of the line. there were other good breaks by Stockport including two by Simon Green and one by Myles Hall but the support was unable to take advantage. Stockport had to defend desperately, as Cleckheaton tried to build on their lead, and succeeded in preventing another try but a long distance penalty by Cleckheaton gave them 7-22 lead. Again Stockport responded well and after yet another penalty, line out sequence young flanker Jordan Simpson, who was probably Stockport’s man of the match, forced his way over for a try, which Edwards converted to make it 14-22. with time almost up Stockport were awarded a penalty on the Cleckheaton 22 and Edwards kick success secured the losing bonus point at 17-22.