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Sat 24 Oct 2009 ·  National League 3 North
1st XVRochdale
Tries: T CRUSE, D MARWICK (2), T KELLY (2), J DREWConversions: M BEBBINGTON (3)
36
16
PORT WORK HARD TO SUBDUE DALE
Richard Hope26 Oct 2009 - 11:04
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Important win for Stockport and they gain the try bonus point.
Full report by Mike Atkinson:
Stockport managed to complete this game with a good winning margin and a bonus point for scoring 4 tries. However for much of the first half the game was dominated by Rochdale with their fly-half keeping his side moving forward and making some telling breaks. It was only in the closing minutes of the first half that the Stockport forwards stamped their authority on the game and scored two tries, driving over from lineouts in the visitors 22.
Stockport had a positive start and centre Tom Kelly made a couple of convincing breaks but there were too many handling errors and it quickly became apparent that the visitors No 10 was an excellent kicker, he converted a penalty from 40 metres out and quickly followed with another from a similar position. Stockport prop Tom Cruse provided one of the great moments of the game when he picked up a loose ball on half way and outpaced the Rochdale wing to score in the corner. The Rochdale No 10 then made a telling break in midfield and offloaded to the supporting centre, who scored easily under the posts, with the conversion Rochdale were ahead 13-5. The visitors then started to look dominant, with good running and support play, they just failed to score due to a knock on and as Stockport were unable to make any real progress until just before half time, when a drive from a lineout on the visitors 22 took play to the try line and after real pressure Skipper Dave Marwick was able to twist over the line for a try, which Matt Bebbington converted. The Stockport forwards had clearly got the message and repeated the drive on the opposite side of the pitch to give Marwick his second try on the stroke of half time. With no conversion Stockport led 17-13 at the break.
Stockport conceded a penalty early in the second half and again the Rochdale kicker was on target. Stockport No 8, Blakely ran across from the base of a scrum and his inside pass opened the way for Tom Kelly to score under the posts, Bebbington converted for 24-16. Kelly was soon on the score sheet again as the Stockport forwards won a turnover and Kelly picked up the loose ball to run in from 30 metres, breaking through the Rochdale tackles to score, with the conversion Stockport had a convincing lead at 31-16. Rochdale never gave up and as they were attacking in the Stockport 22 Pearson got an interception and ran the length of the pitch but just failed to score as the Rochdale defender caught him 3 metres out. A 6th try was added by wing James Drew after Stockport won a ruck and Bebbington put through a grubber kick, Drew ran around the defence and won the race for the touchdown, again there was no conversion to make the final score 36-16.
This win puts Stockport back to 3rd in the table, just behind Chester on points difference.
Stockport managed to complete this game with a good winning margin and a bonus point for scoring 4 tries. However for much of the first half the game was dominated by Rochdale with their fly-half keeping his side moving forward and making some telling breaks. It was only in the closing minutes of the first half that the Stockport forwards stamped their authority on the game and scored two tries, driving over from lineouts in the visitors 22.
Stockport had a positive start and centre Tom Kelly made a couple of convincing breaks but there were too many handling errors and it quickly became apparent that the visitors No 10 was an excellent kicker, he converted a penalty from 40 metres out and quickly followed with another from a similar position. Stockport prop Tom Cruse provided one of the great moments of the game when he picked up a loose ball on half way and outpaced the Rochdale wing to score in the corner. The Rochdale No 10 then made a telling break in midfield and offloaded to the supporting centre, who scored easily under the posts, with the conversion Rochdale were ahead 13-5. The visitors then started to look dominant, with good running and support play, they just failed to score due to a knock on and as Stockport were unable to make any real progress until just before half time, when a drive from a lineout on the visitors 22 took play to the try line and after real pressure Skipper Dave Marwick was able to twist over the line for a try, which Matt Bebbington converted. The Stockport forwards had clearly got the message and repeated the drive on the opposite side of the pitch to give Marwick his second try on the stroke of half time. With no conversion Stockport led 17-13 at the break.
Stockport conceded a penalty early in the second half and again the Rochdale kicker was on target. Stockport No 8, Blakely ran across from the base of a scrum and his inside pass opened the way for Tom Kelly to score under the posts, Bebbington converted for 24-16. Kelly was soon on the score sheet again as the Stockport forwards won a turnover and Kelly picked up the loose ball to run in from 30 metres, breaking through the Rochdale tackles to score, with the conversion Stockport had a convincing lead at 31-16. Rochdale never gave up and as they were attacking in the Stockport 22 Pearson got an interception and ran the length of the pitch but just failed to score as the Rochdale defender caught him 3 metres out. A 6th try was added by wing James Drew after Stockport won a ruck and Bebbington put through a grubber kick, Drew ran around the defence and won the race for the touchdown, again there was no conversion to make the final score 36-16.
This win puts Stockport back to 3rd in the table, just behind Chester on points difference.
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