SO CLOSE AGAIN

To add to their problems with injury, wing Tom Oban was taken off to hospital with a serious ankle injury, on the plus side they saw the return of prop Craig Anthony. Against a well organised and strong running Birmingham side Stockport dominated the first half, scoring two tries for a half time lead of 17-14. The visitors came out very strongly for the second half and scored an early try and kept Stockport on the back foot for much of the half. Despite a spirited period of pressure for the last 10 minutes Stockport were unable to cross the visitors line and the final score was 17-21.
Stockport attacked at the start of the game and were on the score board with a penalty by standoff Richard Geary, Birmingham quickly scored with a penalty to even in up after 10 minutes. Stockport then had one of their best periods of the season with driving play from the halfway, crossing the gain line in each phase until Dan Eccles was driven over for the try, Geary converted. Stockport conceded possession by not using ruck ball quickly enough and from the scrum Birmingham moved the ball wide to the right and outflanked the defence for an unconverted try to make it 10-8. After an excellent penalty to touch the home side were held up just short and again took the kick to touch 5 metres out, Birmingham lost a player to the sin bin for taking out Stockport’s jumper and from the subsequent lineout Stockport attacked and after several drives Jamie Anthony got the touchdown. Geary was on target again to make it 17-8 on 30 minutes. Disappointingly two penalties were conceded to allow the visitors back with a half time score of 17-14.
Birmingham came out very strongly in the second half, Oban was injured as he collected a attacking kick. From a Stockport attack that broke down Birmingham kicked to touch but their throw was not straight at the lineout 10 metres out. Stockport opted for a scrum, and despite winning the ball were unable to control it and the visitors pushed the scrum over the line and got the touchdown. With the conversion Birmingham were ahead for the first time, they kept up real pressure and the Stockport tackle count had to be really high to keep the visitors out. Birmingham knocked on a scoring pass, Stockport attacked the Birmingham line but the ball was knocked on, and a series of poor kicking decisions allowed the visitors to keep the pressure on. In the last 10 minutes Stockport attacked well and there was hope of the vital try after some good continuity but another knock on when the line had been crossed meant there was just a bonus point to take from the game.