Stockport beat Otley by 31-0 in this home game, which had a half time score of 0-0, to move up to 6th in the table. Rather than the 5 very good tries scored in the second half it was the Stockport defence in the first half which enabled them to go on and win the game with a bonus point. Having been under pressure for the whole of the first half, with two players in the sin bin for the last 5 minutes the Stockport defence was excellent and Otley will have gone in for the break unsure of how they had failed to score.
Apart from the lineout, Otley dominated the whole first half, with Stockport unable to get any continuity and Otley putting together long passages of recycling and pressure in the Stockport half but they were unable to cross the line or take advantage of the many penalties they were awarded, thanks to the good organisation of the Stockport defence. Another young Stockport player stepped up today as Mike Waddington playing at number 8 made a significant contribution, demonstrating his ability to get across the gain line from the back of the scrum.
Otley started the second half as they had the first, but Stockport started to get continuity and after a long drive from a lineout by the forwards the ball was moved into midfield and Steve Pearson coming in from full back was able to break through the defence to score on 60 minutes, the wind took the conversion wide but this stunned Otley and gave Stockport the impetus they needed. The second try was one of the best this season, from the kick off Tom Cruse made a run into the Otley half and they ball was moved between players down the touch line until wing Scott Redfern got the try and Josh Longmore converted from the touchline. From good possession on the halfway line, Skipper Dave Marwick gave Cruse a flat pass that created the space for the man of the match to run 40 metres to score, again the wind foiled the conversion but Stockport were now in full control. Within 5 minutes second row Dave Hopkins scored after good linking by forwards and backs and a drive led by Marwick allowed the ball to be moved left and then back infield for Hopkins to score, substitute Jonny Evans converted and the bonus point was secured. The final flourish was a try on 80 minutes for wing Jamie Anthony as the ball was run from the kick off and Edwards completed the conversion from the touchline.
Next week is away to runaway leaders Loughborough Students and Stockport will be hoping to repeat the victory they had at home the second week of the season.