The long awaited meeting between the National 3 North’s top two clubs finally arrived at the weekend and it was top of the table Stockport who strengthened their position with a 22-16 win over close rivals Bradford and Bingley. Stockport’s 8th consecutive league victory gives them a nine point lead in the league with a game still in hand.
It was not easy going. As expected, Bradford & Bingley made a very strong start to the game and in the first 30 minutes Stockport were pinned in their own half. However the soaked up the pressure at the cost of two penalties and a yellow card to No.8 Ben Davey. It was scant reward for the all the territory and possession they had enjoyed.
A turning point came in the 35th minute., Bradford lost their scrum half to injury and their No.8 to a yellow card. Stockport took the opportunity to execute their favourite party piece from a line out and Brazilian flanker Nick Smith grounded the ball for their first points.
Stockport were forced to concede a further penalty before half time to make the score at the break 9-5. Tom Cruse was brought on for a return to action after injury against Rossendale a month before. Stockport start to turn the game and Tim Burgon then made a further change. It meant a debut for Jordan Pearson newly arrived from Preston Grasshoppers via Blackburn.
The Stockport breakthrough came 18 minutes into the half. George Cook who had many a number of outstanding tackles in the first half retrieved a Bradford kick ahead and launched a sky high up and under. A mixture of wind and sun seem to confuse the Bradford full back who allowed the ball to bounced. George kicked on and the ball then ricocheted back into Tom Cruse’s hands and he skipped past defenders to score. With Jonny Edwards adding the extras Stockport hand the lead 9-12.
Bradford then conceded a penalty without touching the ball again. They failed to make 10 from the restart, conceded a penalty from the ensuing scrum and then a further penalty at the lineout that followed. Jonny converted it to points. 9-15.
Stockport were in full flow and with 6 minutes to go sealed the game with a push over try that was grounded by Ben Davey. Jonny Edwards converted again. 9-22. At this point in the scoring Stockport were one try from a bonus point and Bradford needed a converted try for a losing bonus point for themselves. So even at this late point in the game it still had the potential to end in a 3, 4 or 5 point win for the league leaders.
A lot of credit to Bradford who came with a final effort which saw then score a try with the last play of the match and earned their losing bonus point with the conversion. Final score 22-16
Next week Stockport travel to Lymm. Kick Off 2.15pm