Stockport make further strides in their improvement

Stockport made further strides in their improvement with an excellent performance by the pack and improved tackling in the backs. The highlights of the game for Stockport were the forwards who to a large extent dominated the set scrums, robbing Hull of their own ball on several occasions, and the tackling, particularly by the back row but everyone played their part. Despite these efforts Hull scored 7 tries to one by Stockport, but rather than let them get away further in the final quarter it was Stockport who finished strongest with a good spell in the Hull 22. Once the penalty count is reduced and the handling improves Stockport should be much more competitive as the season goes on.

Stockport were first on the score board with a penalty by Scott Redfern after both the Hull second rows were yellow carded in the early minutes, as they tried to defend two good Stockport attacks. With the Hull pack short of numbers the scrum option may have been better to give the chance of the try but the home side were ahead. Hull replied with a penalty from the kick off and then after many phases the Hull right wing scored as Stockport just ran out of defenders. Hull added a second penalty and two more tries before half time but two saving tackles by Stockport full back Mike Hughes saved the lead being greater than 25-3 to the visitors.

Hull scored from the kick off of the second half and added a second 5 minutes later to make it 37-3 after 45 minutes. But the Stockport side showed real character in coming back and scoring a try through No 8 Jordan Pearson as Stockport dominated a scrum 15 metres out from the Hull line. Redfern added the conversion to make it 37-10. Hull won a penalty for a deliberate knock on as Redfern attempted an interception that would have put him clear and Hull had a well organised drive from the resulting line out to score for 42-10. The visitors added a further converted try on 62 minutes for 49-10 but that was their last effort as Stockport had a really good final quarter. An excellent 30 metre break by centre Simon Currie gave Stockport a chance to score but a penalty for offside prevented the home side scoring after they had won successive penalties.

This encouraging performance sets up what should be a very competitive game at Waterloo next week as Stockport meet the other side with no wins this season.