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Sat 26 Sep 2009 · National League 3 North
1st XVSheffield Tigers
Tries: G NEWTON (2), P RALPHConversions: S PEARSON (2)Penalties: S PEARSON
22
15
DEEP PAN STOCKPORT ROLL ON
Richard Hope28 Sep 2009 - 13:54
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Pizzamen dig deep and give a gutsey performance to bring a first win against the Tigers
I’d had been such a good rugby weekend at SRUFC that I’d been trying to avoid doing some of the hard graft that follows. 4 out of 5 Senior teams winning on Saturday. Both of my 15’s teams winning on Sunday morning and just to finish it off the Felons returned with a 51-0 win at Stoke.
But with the time moving to 11.37am on Monday my phone finally has stopped ringing and I can put pen to paper about Saturday’s game which some described as the best Stockport result since Twickenham 2006.
In my time of watching The 1st XV I have never seen us beat the Tigers of Sheffield and after defeats home and away last season this would show that whether we’ve stepped up a level since 2008-2009.
(Team News) OUT : Matt Bebbington – still recovering from an Achilles problem but well on the mend, Jan- Erik Anderson, unavailable. IN : Greg Newton back on the wing for his first league outing of the season.
Unusually for Stockport we out of the blocks first and the healthy looking crowd were only just settling down when some slick hands through the backs presented the home side with chance to score after only 2 minutes. Unfortunately a moment’s mix up between the two James’s Drew and Anthony lead to a try going begging.
It was Sheffield who were on the board first with a penalty from Tom Outram (0-3 7min). Stockport then settled in a well structured pattern of the forwards making some hard yards and the backs then being given a chance to probe. Into the mix was good positional kicking from Steve Pearson who seemed to be carrying on where he left off at Darlington the previous week.
It took another 10 minutes of probing to get the break through we deserved. Ben Blakely made a forging run into the Tigers 22 and off loaded to fellow countryman Tom Kelly. He went into contact 10 metres out and the flow quickly continued to the right. The direction of play was then quickly reversed and Dave Marwick threw a beautiful pass wide to the left to find Reuben Harvey and he in turn fed Greg Newton outside on the wing with clear air in front of him. Steve Pearson added the conversion for a lead that Stockport were never to relinquish. (7-3 17min)
The game was not without its errors and these kept the scoring low but the battle for territory was in Stockport’s favour. It wasn’t until just before the break that Stockport broke the deadlock with a further try. Blakely set the ball rolling again and this time found Dave Marwick with his off load. Dave pass found James Drew in support on the left and as James ‘drew’ the final defender it was Paul Ralph he popped up on his shoulder to receive his pass which gave him an easy run in for this 4th try of the season. With the extras from Steve Pearson it was a good point to arrive at the half way point. (14-3 39 mins)
Stockport saved their best try for their third and last of the game and it came in only the 5th minute of the second period. A ruck was formed around the half way line about 15 metres in. The ball went left to Steve Pearson who had moved to the blind side. Steve beat the defender by the touchline and set off towards the Tigers line. He still had the full back to beat and then about 10 out and with the contact looming Greg Newton came up inside him like a hare with it’s tail on fire. Steve could not have possibly seen him coming and must have got a shout and his perfect pass into fresh air inside was collected by Greg without breaking stride. No conversion this time (19-3 45 min)
This left 35 minutes to go to the finishing post. It should have been a stress free time but a combination of Sheffield determination, Stockport complacency and then injuries lead to it being a battle for the win and rather killed off any talk of another try bonus point. Sheffield started their recovery by scoring 12 minutes into the half but the scorer Tom Outram inexplicably missed the conversion (19-8 12min)
Both John Wilson and Ian Kennedy were soon thrust into the fray for Rueben Harvey and Ben Blakely and with two of the original starting back row off we seemed to suffer a bit of self doubt. The scrum was also under pressure and a combination of events lead to Sheffield scoring again after 31 minutes through right wing Sam Bostock. With Outram’s conversion the Stockport lead was looking decidedly shaky. (19-15 31min)
Then Gareth Stevens day was done at prop and Ian Kennedy had to move into his slot. There was no alternative other than to let Richard Geary get to see the dark side of piano pushing for the last 10 minutes rather than standing behind tickling the ivories at scrum half.
In the end it was that man Steve Pearson and his kicking boot who settled our nerves and gave us a little bit of insurance when he slotted 40 metre penalty goal with 5 minutes to go. (22-15 35min)
A really good win for Stockport and with four wins from four they can now take the Pizza road show up to Middlesbrough on Saturday for a top of the table clash which might well give an early indication of where the title will end up.
But with the time moving to 11.37am on Monday my phone finally has stopped ringing and I can put pen to paper about Saturday’s game which some described as the best Stockport result since Twickenham 2006.
In my time of watching The 1st XV I have never seen us beat the Tigers of Sheffield and after defeats home and away last season this would show that whether we’ve stepped up a level since 2008-2009.
(Team News) OUT : Matt Bebbington – still recovering from an Achilles problem but well on the mend, Jan- Erik Anderson, unavailable. IN : Greg Newton back on the wing for his first league outing of the season.
Unusually for Stockport we out of the blocks first and the healthy looking crowd were only just settling down when some slick hands through the backs presented the home side with chance to score after only 2 minutes. Unfortunately a moment’s mix up between the two James’s Drew and Anthony lead to a try going begging.
It was Sheffield who were on the board first with a penalty from Tom Outram (0-3 7min). Stockport then settled in a well structured pattern of the forwards making some hard yards and the backs then being given a chance to probe. Into the mix was good positional kicking from Steve Pearson who seemed to be carrying on where he left off at Darlington the previous week.
It took another 10 minutes of probing to get the break through we deserved. Ben Blakely made a forging run into the Tigers 22 and off loaded to fellow countryman Tom Kelly. He went into contact 10 metres out and the flow quickly continued to the right. The direction of play was then quickly reversed and Dave Marwick threw a beautiful pass wide to the left to find Reuben Harvey and he in turn fed Greg Newton outside on the wing with clear air in front of him. Steve Pearson added the conversion for a lead that Stockport were never to relinquish. (7-3 17min)
The game was not without its errors and these kept the scoring low but the battle for territory was in Stockport’s favour. It wasn’t until just before the break that Stockport broke the deadlock with a further try. Blakely set the ball rolling again and this time found Dave Marwick with his off load. Dave pass found James Drew in support on the left and as James ‘drew’ the final defender it was Paul Ralph he popped up on his shoulder to receive his pass which gave him an easy run in for this 4th try of the season. With the extras from Steve Pearson it was a good point to arrive at the half way point. (14-3 39 mins)
Stockport saved their best try for their third and last of the game and it came in only the 5th minute of the second period. A ruck was formed around the half way line about 15 metres in. The ball went left to Steve Pearson who had moved to the blind side. Steve beat the defender by the touchline and set off towards the Tigers line. He still had the full back to beat and then about 10 out and with the contact looming Greg Newton came up inside him like a hare with it’s tail on fire. Steve could not have possibly seen him coming and must have got a shout and his perfect pass into fresh air inside was collected by Greg without breaking stride. No conversion this time (19-3 45 min)
This left 35 minutes to go to the finishing post. It should have been a stress free time but a combination of Sheffield determination, Stockport complacency and then injuries lead to it being a battle for the win and rather killed off any talk of another try bonus point. Sheffield started their recovery by scoring 12 minutes into the half but the scorer Tom Outram inexplicably missed the conversion (19-8 12min)
Both John Wilson and Ian Kennedy were soon thrust into the fray for Rueben Harvey and Ben Blakely and with two of the original starting back row off we seemed to suffer a bit of self doubt. The scrum was also under pressure and a combination of events lead to Sheffield scoring again after 31 minutes through right wing Sam Bostock. With Outram’s conversion the Stockport lead was looking decidedly shaky. (19-15 31min)
Then Gareth Stevens day was done at prop and Ian Kennedy had to move into his slot. There was no alternative other than to let Richard Geary get to see the dark side of piano pushing for the last 10 minutes rather than standing behind tickling the ivories at scrum half.
In the end it was that man Steve Pearson and his kicking boot who settled our nerves and gave us a little bit of insurance when he slotted 40 metre penalty goal with 5 minutes to go. (22-15 35min)
A really good win for Stockport and with four wins from four they can now take the Pizza road show up to Middlesbrough on Saturday for a top of the table clash which might well give an early indication of where the title will end up.
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