Despite an early drop goal getting Stockport off to a good start it was the Tigers who came out on top 25-16, depriving Stockport of a losing bonus point with a penalty in the last minute to move the Sheffield side back above Stockport. There was some heroic defending by the Stockport pack but 3 yellow cards and an inability to get the ball into touch to relieve pressure meant it was an uphill task to stay in the game during the last quarter.
A drop goal by fly-half Josh Longmore had Stockport ahead after 2 minutes and there was some good play by the visitors but from the first scrum the Stockport forwards were under pressure in the front row and Sheffield were soon level with a penalty for offside. The Tigers then demonstrated some good driving play and once in the 22 secured another penalty to make it 3-6. Longmore then scored a penalty for Stockport. There were some good breaks by both sides but the decisive one came for Tigers in the 30th minute and the Stockport tackles were beaten for a try wide out, there was no conversion and a Stockport penalty by Longmore made it 11-9 to Tigers at half time.
The second half started well as a recycled ball from Dave Marwick gave hooker Tom Cruse the opportunity to run free of the defenders and put centre Jamie Anthony in for a try, which Longmore converted to put Stockport 16-11 ahead. The Tigers backs made a number of telling breaks and one resulted in real pressure on the Stockport line, Nic Smith received a yellow card for his defensive efforts. There was great defence by the Stockport forwards as they held out for four 5metre scrums but Stockport were unable to relieve the pressure and Tigers scored a second unconverted try to bring the scores level. Tigers added 3 more penalties in the last 15 minutes, while Stockport, had two more yellow cards for pulling a maul down and not rolling away from a tackle.