6 Try victory secures national league status

Stockport finished the season in style, with a convincing 6 try victory, away at Birkenhead Park. to secure National 3 status for next season. The final score of 40-22 gave Stockport the 5 points that ensured they would stay above close rivals Huddersfield YMCA, who also had a 5 point win. It was no easy victory with Birkenhead Park providing strong resistance but 6 very well created tries and 5 conversions from Scott Redfern made it an excellent finish to what has been a difficult season for Stockport. It was a good performance by both forwards and backs, with good driving, good passing and positive running and some good defence against a determined Birkenhead Park side, a fitting performance for Matt Bebbington’s last game as Stockport’s coach.

Stockport started with several phases of play but were unable to get out of their 22 and after 2 minutes a penalty to Park gave them a chance for a well controlled drive from the line out to score a converted try and make it 7-0. Stockport got close to the Park line after a good run by Mike Waddington but the drive was held up and Park cleared with a penalty for criticism of the referee by Stockport. It was not until 30 minutes were up that Stockport got on the scoreboard, Jordan Simpson prevented a turnover and good driving by the forwards took play up to the Park line and as the ball spun loose from a ruck scrum half Sean Street picked up and scurried over the line, Redfern converted to level it up at 7-7. Park responded from the kick off, with a run by their wing setting up a penalty and again the line out and drive secured a try for the home side to make it 12-7. Stockport made it an eventful 10 minutes with an excellent move, following a carry by Waddington the ball was recycled and Street collected a return pass from Longmore, Street moved the ball to Myles Hall on the wing and his run set up an inside pass to Simon Green and Kieran Hibbs was in support to get the score. Redfern’s conversion put Stockport into the lead at 14-12. Stockport were dominant for the last few minutes of the half and it ended with George Smith being bundled into touch just short of the line.

Park put on early pressure but they conceded a penalty when 5 metres out from the Stockport line allowing their visitors to clear. it was only minutes later when another Waddington run set up a position in the Park half, the recycled ball went to Hibbs at pace and he made ground to offload to Street, who found Ashley Platt-Hughes in support and the fullback ran in under the posts from the 22, Redfern converted for 21-12. From the kick off Mark Edwards made a break down the blind side, hooker Andy Broadhurst made good ground and his pass put wing Lewis Bowman in for a try, this was the only conversion Redfern was unable to convert but the lead now looked safe and the vital bonus point was secured at 26-12. The excitement was far from over, Park scored another try from a line out drive before Stockport got their 5th try with a sustained drive making 25 metres and Jamie Anthony getting the touch down. With only 5 minutes to go Hibbs scored his second try after a break by Hall and good inter-passing to take Stockport to 40 points but the home side finished with a try by their wing from a scrum in the Stockport 22, to make it 40-22.

So Stockport look forward to another season in the National leagues, there will be a new coach but this young side has much potential and we can look forward to it being realised.