MATCH REPORT: National League Two Division North: Preston Grasshoppers 34-7 Stockport

Scott Jordan’s try had given Preston Grasshoppers the lead, but Port hit back through Chris Tennuci’s breakaway try to give the visitors a 5-7 lead at the break.

The game turned when two early second half tries from Andy Napier and Lewis Allen gave the Hoppers a comfortable advantage.

Preston then capitalised on Stockport errors and struck three more times as Sam Kindred, Jack Banks and Jordan again crossed for tries to seal victory.

Stockport Coach Matthew Bebbington said: “The first half was very good. We built on last week in terms of our performance, but unfortunately we didn’t score from three five metre line-outs and let in a soft try from a midfield scrum which we should have had covered.

“In the second half, we were against a strong wind and didn’t see much ball and when we did we shot ourselves in the foot by giving the ball up quite easily, especially in wide positions and we gave them easy territory.

“The effort was there, but there was a couple of times where we had missed tackles and poor contact skills that lead to their five pointers. PJ (Paul Millea) mentioned in the changing rooms that we need to be mentality fit and having absolute clarity in every moment of the game and unfortunately some people are getting lost in the game for maybe 10 seconds and that’s all you need at this level.

“I think we have got to be a bit more ambitious. When we you are playing against a strong wind and not seeing much ball, if you get a platform in the 22 or in your half, instead of kicking the ball and making 10 yards we should back our systems and have a crack.

“Now we need to prepare for Hull Ionains next week and Chester the week after.”

With Stockport having drawn at home to Birmingham and Solihull last Saturday, they knew they could use that positive performance to continue their good start to 2015.

13th placed Preston Grasshoppers needed a victory as they had lost their last five matches and hadn’t won since 22nd November.

And it was the home side that got the first score of the game after a cagey opening 15 minutes which saw the game confined to the midfield due to the windy conditions.

From a midfield scrum, there was a four on four situation down the right hand side and after quick ball from the hosts and some missed tackles by Stockport it allowed full-back Mark Murray to send winger Jordan over for an unconverted try despite the best defensive efforts from Port’s Elliot Fletcher.

The heavy winds which the country had witnessed overnight had died down in time for kick-off, but the wind did benefit Stockport as Jonny Edwards found a good range with his kicking in the first half.

His kicking nearly was the start of a try for Stockport as numerous kicks into the corner from penalties allowed the visitors to put pressure on Preston. Their patient build up play from five metre lineouts was not rewarded as Preston’s defence stood strong and the chance was gone for Port.

But after thinking they had wasted a golden opportunity to score they were then presented with one as Dan Madden’s pass was intercepted on halfway and Tennuci broke away to score. Ashley Platt-Hughes converted and Stockport led 5-7.

And just before half-time Stockport should have had try number two.

Again, after good phase play, Port found themselves five metres out but did not take the option to go blind where there was a massive gap for them to score. Nevertheless, they had a two point led heading into the break.

The conditions worsened after half-time as a shower of hailstones ascended on Lancashire, but Preston did not seem phased by this and made an instant impact from the restart.

Four minutes into the half, the hosts set up a driving maul 30 meters from the try line and Stockport just couldn’t deal with it and eventually Napier forced his way over for a 10-7 lead.

Stockport unfortunately lost prop Ollie Longmore - who was returning from a long term injury – and he watched on as his side were giving Preston too much territory and ultimately they exploited it.

Preston opted for a scrum after knock-on by Stockport and from that it, was all too easy for Murray to find a pass to the replacement Allen who scooted through a gap to score- adding the conversion to give his side a handy 17-7 lead.

Those two early tries were the turning point in the match as Preston started to turn the screw on Stockport who were camped in their own half for the majority of the second period.

The hosts battered away, but Stockport showed great resolve as they consistently made tackles despite tiring throughout the half.

But the pressure told as from a scrum close to the try line, the ball moved its way out to Kindred who shook of some tackles from Stockport and scored an unconverted try to give his side a 15 point lead with ten minutes remaining.

Referee Michael Harris then sin-binned Stockport’s Tennuci and Preston then added the gloss on their second half performance by scoring two more tries.

Firstly, Banks forced his way over after a catch and drive from a Preston lineout and then the hosts used their dynamic second half display to score their sixth try of the afternoon as Jordan crossed over for his second try against a tiring defence to secure the win for his side.

Stockport welcome league leaders Hull Ionians to Headlands Road next Saturday. Kick-Off 2:15pm.

Click here to listen to Coach Matthew Bebbington’s full post match interview along with the thoughts of Stockport’s George Smith and Elliot Fletcher on Stockport Rugby Club’s official AudioBoom account.

Stockport: Fletcher; Cantwell, Platt-Hughes, Anthony, Tennuci; J Edwards, Street; S Green, Marsland, K Hibbs; C Hibbs, Roddy (capt); Gill, Millea, Longmore.

Replacements: Nicholson, Graham, Hopkins, Eccles, Smith.

Try: Tennuci
Con: Platt-Hughes

Preston Grasshoppers: M Murray; Baines (capt), Russell, Hurst, Jordan; Zavallis-Roebuck, Kindred; Taylor, Walker, Napier; A Murray, Banks; Altham, Mills, Madden.

Replacements: Holmes, Mabaya, Morton, Lees, Allen.

Tries: Jordan (2), Napier, Allen, Kindred, Banks
Cons: Allen (2)