Stockport pack power to bonus point win

Stockport travelled to Billingham and secured their 5th win in a row with a powerful forward performance. The 36-7 bonus point victory included 3 tries and two penalty tries to a converted try by the home side. The Billingham pack had no answer to the Stockport scrum and was under so much pressure that a stream of penalties was conceded, resulting in 3 yellow cards for Billingham. There was also a red card for the Billingham No 10 and a yellow card for Stockport’s centre Jamie Anthony after a second half altercation that resulted in both teams piling into a ruckus.

Stockport started playing into a very strong wind, the first try came on only 8 minutes after a scrum was well controlled and No 8 Dan Eccles got the score as the drive was carried over the line. There was no conversion against the wind. Billingham then played several good phases after turning over a line out, a penalty was conceded by Stockport and from the ensuing line out the home scrum half got a try near to posts to put Billingham ahead at 7-5. With good continuity and patience Stockport won a penalty 5 metres out and opted for a scrum, which was well controlled and Billingham conceded a penalty try as they tried to stop the drive. With Josh Longmore’s conversion on 25 minutes and no further scoring it was 12-7 at half time.

There was an early 2nd half try for full back Jonny Edwards as a penalty was quickly taken and moved to the right, Longmore converted to make it 19-7. The dominance of the Stockport scrum was the main feature of the second half, along with the many penalties conceded by Billingham. There was a second penalty try, resulting in a yellow card for the home loose head, Longmore converted and added a penalty on 75 minutes. The final play of the game was a try for wing Myles Hall as he intercepted a pass on halfway and ran in unopposed to score under the posts, Longmore added the conversion to make it 36-7.