STOCKPORT SCORE 4 TRIES BUT BEATEN BY MORLEY PACE

In this final game of the season, Stockport played some very good rugby and scored 4 tries to secure a bonus point. The final score of 71-24 was a reflection of Stockport’s inability to cope with the pace of the Morley backs. Stockport scorers were Dudley Southern, Jordan Pearson, Paul Ralph and Brad Tuff. Simon Green, normally a back row demonstrated his versatility with a very good performance at fly half.

Morley were on the score board within 5 minutes when they scored from a 5 metre scrum, they were quick to add to their 7 points as the kick off went straight into touch and Morley moved the ball right from the scrum on halfway and the wing ran 40 metres to score, both tries were converted and a penalty added so Stockport were down by 17 points at the end of the first quarter. Stockport scrum half Dudley Southern intercepted on half way and ran in to score under the posts, he added the conversion to make it 17-7. Morley scored from a line out following a penalty before a very good attack by Stockport. An offload by Green led to some good inter- passing and Stockport were just held up near the line, Morley were awarded a scrum but Stockport turned them over and Jordan Pearson powered over the line, for Southern to add the conversion for 24-14. Morley through their backs added 3 more converted tries to make it 45-14 at the break.

The second half started as the first with Morley getting 2 early converted tries, before a really good spell by Stockport. Simon Green started a move, which ended with full back Tom Duffy making ground and offloading very well to allow Ralph to score. More good play by Stockport included a very good break by Southern, some good recycling, a tap penalty and pressure on the Morley line that resulted in a yellow card for the visitors No 10. From the ensuing 5 metre line out a neat throw in drill gave hooker Brad Tuff a try and Stockport a bonus point. With neither try converted Stockport had 24 on the score board. Despite the best efforts of the Stockport players Morley added a further two tries to finish on 71 to Stockport’s 24,

Next Season will see Stockport back in North West 1 after several years in the National Divisions, which will see them playing local fixtures against Wilmslow, Manchester and Burnage.