Against all the odds and thanks to a great effort from Stockport Club members to clear snow and ice at the club this fixture was able to go ahead. Despite weathering an initial period of real pressure from the visitors, Stockport completed a bonus point victory to draw level with Morley at the top of the table, however Morley did not play and so have a game in hand. This victory consolidates Stockport in second place in the table, 13 points ahead of Sheffield Tigers who lost at West Hartlepool and Chester who also have a game in hand.
Middlesbrough after a bright start opened the scoring with a penalty after 11 minutes, after missing a penalty attempt Stockport scored a good try as the ball was moved right to give Greg Newton a run into the Middlesbrough 22 and Steve Pearson steaming up from full back created the extra man and scored. Matt Bebbington’s conversion made it 7-3 to the home side. With the visitor’s No. 5 in the sin bin and following a good kick ahead by Drew, flanker John Wilson added a second try as the forwards took a line out 15 metres out and drove over for the try on 31 minutes. Without the conversion the half time score was 12-3 to the home side.
Middlesbrough started the second half with an early score as a Stockport kick was charged down and the wing hacked on and won the race to get the touchdown, 12-8. Middlesbrough were very much in the game and if it had not been for some poor passing may well have added 3 tries during the half. Stockport scrum half Geary was yellow carded for tripping his opposite number and Stockport seemed to be hanging onto their lead when centre Craig Cooper got his foot to a Middlesbrough kick and found himself in the clear on half way, keeping control of the ball with two good kicks ahead he beat the defence to get a touch down wide out, 17-8. This effort seemed to get Stockport going and a great try was scored after skipper Marwick robbed the ball on half way and set a passing movement going, involving Harvey and Drew who both ran well and got the ball via Anthony to allow prop Tom Cruise to score under the posts. Bebbington converted to seal it at 24-8.