Stockport came home from Rossendale with a hard won 20-15 victory despite having been 12-0 down after 20 minutes to a very committed Rossendale side. Throughout the game Stockport had territorial advantage but it was late into the first half before they got onto the score board and were only 10-12 down at half time. The Rossendale defence was resolute and gave the Stockport backs little chance to dominate so it was the forwards who got the 3 tries that gained the victory.
With only 10 minutes gone Rossendale got an interception after Stockport had won a scrum on half way Rossendale then recycled quickly and the ball was moved wide to the right wing who ran around the Stockport defence on the outside for a try, there was no conversion. Stockport then gained a good position from a Steve Pearson kick and at the drive from the lineout Rossendale were penalised and had a player sent to the sin bin for an illegal turnover. Stockport then dominated but were unable to take advantage and on 25 minutes the home Number 6 Danny Collins made a powerful run and offloaded for the centre to score under the posts, the conversion gave the home side a 12 point lead. Rossendale were then the better side for 10 minutes until Stockport moved the ball from a lineout to give wing Jamie Anthony a run and won a penalty. Matt Bebbington kicked for touch and from the lineout the Stockport forwards drove play over the line for Hugo Corbett to score a try to make it 5-12 as there was no conversion. Prop Tom Cruse started a good movement, with a run from half way, Drew and Ralph took the ball on and when it was recycled Bebbinton kicked wide for Anthony, a Rossendale player knocked on and Stockport won the scrum Blakley picked up and Skipper Dave Marwick scored from the drive to get the visitors to 10-12 at half time.
Stockport camped in the Rossendale half for most of the second half and soon won a penalty for the tackler not rolling away from a tackle on Paul Ralph. Bebbington converted to put Stockport into the lead for the first time at 13-12. A second Rossendale player was sin binned when he tripped wing James Drew as he collected a good Pearson kick ahead. Rossendale then converted a penalty from 40 metres to go back into the lead, very much against the run of play. The Stockport forwards put real pressure on the home line but the Rossendale defence held firm until Stockport successfully played through 10 phases, moving the ball patiently from left to right and back again and Cooper created room for Marwick with a short pass, allowing the skipper to score under the posts, his second try of the game. Marwick has now scored 4 tries in two games following his brace against Rochdale last week. Bebbington converted to give the visitors a 20-15 lead. There were two further penalty attempts as Stockport ran the clock down to complete the victory.
With the win and results elsewhere Stockport have gone back to 2nd place in the league and with victories for the second, third and fourth teams it was another good day for the club.