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Sat 10 Apr 2010 · National League 3 North
1st XVChester
Tries: D MARWICK (2), G NEWTON, A FULLER, P RALPHConversions: M BEBBINGTON
27
17
BRING ON PENRITH
Richard Hope12 Apr 2010 - 00:15
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With Stockport and Penrith securing bonus points, the gap is 4 points and our fate is in our hands.
(By Mike Atkinson)
Despite the most dominant display this season by the Stockport forwards during the first half and scoring 5 tries it was only in the last five minutes of this match against visitors Chester that Stockport made certain of victory with a 27-17 scoreline. With the bonus point secured Stockport remain in second place in the table 4 points clear of Penrith and two points below Morley making next week’s home game against Penrith a must win to be certain of a place in the playoffs for promotion.
Right from the start the Stockport forwards proved far too strong for the Chester pack, winning set scrums convincingly and pushing Chester off their own ball. After only 5 minutes Marwick controlled well at the base of a scrum as the front five pushed Chester back over their line for the first try, converted by Bebbington. A similar try followed after 20 minutes as Chester struggled with the power of the Stockport scrum, this time there was no conversion. Chester replied with a penalty but Stockport scored a good try with the ball being moved right after more pressure by the forwards, with Pearson and Cooper creating space for Newton to dummy the defender and score. The Chester backs at last had some ball to work with and demonstrated good skill to out flank the Stockport defence to score a converted try to make it 17-10 at half time.
Chester started the 2nd half well, with their forwards at last able to get into the game and their backs always looking dangerous, they dominated the third quarter of the game but it was Stockport who got the next score. A focussed drive by the forwards from half way ended with a scrum 5 m out but possession was lost, a good take and drive from the subsequent lineout resulted in a try for Fuller, securing the bonus point but there was no conversion to make it 22-10. Chester responded with a good try as they moved the ball left then right with the Stockport tacklers unable to stop the score, with the conversion things became very nervy at 22-17. There were a couple of missed penalties and a number of chances for Stockport to score went begging, the Chester backs continued to look dangerous but in the dying moments Cruse followed a kick ahead and his tackle allowed Ralph to come up with ball and gallop 40 metres to beat the defence for a try to secure the win.
Despite the most dominant display this season by the Stockport forwards during the first half and scoring 5 tries it was only in the last five minutes of this match against visitors Chester that Stockport made certain of victory with a 27-17 scoreline. With the bonus point secured Stockport remain in second place in the table 4 points clear of Penrith and two points below Morley making next week’s home game against Penrith a must win to be certain of a place in the playoffs for promotion.
Right from the start the Stockport forwards proved far too strong for the Chester pack, winning set scrums convincingly and pushing Chester off their own ball. After only 5 minutes Marwick controlled well at the base of a scrum as the front five pushed Chester back over their line for the first try, converted by Bebbington. A similar try followed after 20 minutes as Chester struggled with the power of the Stockport scrum, this time there was no conversion. Chester replied with a penalty but Stockport scored a good try with the ball being moved right after more pressure by the forwards, with Pearson and Cooper creating space for Newton to dummy the defender and score. The Chester backs at last had some ball to work with and demonstrated good skill to out flank the Stockport defence to score a converted try to make it 17-10 at half time.
Chester started the 2nd half well, with their forwards at last able to get into the game and their backs always looking dangerous, they dominated the third quarter of the game but it was Stockport who got the next score. A focussed drive by the forwards from half way ended with a scrum 5 m out but possession was lost, a good take and drive from the subsequent lineout resulted in a try for Fuller, securing the bonus point but there was no conversion to make it 22-10. Chester responded with a good try as they moved the ball left then right with the Stockport tacklers unable to stop the score, with the conversion things became very nervy at 22-17. There were a couple of missed penalties and a number of chances for Stockport to score went begging, the Chester backs continued to look dangerous but in the dying moments Cruse followed a kick ahead and his tackle allowed Ralph to come up with ball and gallop 40 metres to beat the defence for a try to secure the win.
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