Best performance of the season secures first league point

The best performance of the season secured Stockport’s first league point. An excellent performance by the Stockport forwards was the basis for securing this point, which until the last play of the game looked like it could be 2 points as it was 19-19 with only a minute to go. The dominance of the Stockport pack was demonstrated by the award of 2 penalty tries as Billingham offended in trying to stop well controlled drives by the Stockport pack. Full credit goes to the front row of Simon Metcalfe, Andy Broadhurst andTony Thoma, who also scored a try as he was driven over by the pack. But this was a huge effort by the whole team, the back 5 in the scrum never stopped and created some good attacks. After the dominance of the Billingham backs when they beat Stockport 79-10 earlier in the season, the Stockport centre pairing of Simon Green and Simon Curry tackled well and the Billingham backs were restricted from their free running game. As it was Stockport were unable to clear a penalty attempt and were turned over for Billingham to score a last minute try for a 24-19 victory

Stockport had a lot of early possession but were restricted to their own half and Billingham broke through for their centre to score after 5 minutes, the try was converted. Stockport wing James Kean was yellow carded on 20 minutes as Stockport defended a sustained Billingham attack. Billingham tapped a penalty and scored a second converted try on 25 minutes. Stockport were very competitive and defended well to keep the score at 14-0 to the visitors at half time.

After a period of pressure by Billingham, Stockport tapped a penalty and Billingham had a forward sent to the sin bin for not being 10 metres. From the resulting line out Stockport created a good drive for Thoma to touch down, there was no conversion to make it 14-5. A good run and kick ahead by Stockport wing Alex Terry set up a good position and after 3 dominant Stockport scrums the referee awarded a penalty try, which was converted by Scott Redfern. for 14-12. Stockport were beaten to the ball from the restart and the Billingham backs did a loop move that cut through the Stockport defence, there was no conversion and the visitors led 19-12. Stockport turned over a line out and a good drive resulted in another yellow card for Billingham. Stockport opted for a scrum and another penalty try was the result to bring Stockport level at 19-19. Billingham had a penalty to go ahead but the kick missed, Stockport secured the ball but were unable to clear it and Billingham got the turn over and scored in the corner for a 24-19 victory but at least Stockport had their bonus point.