MATCH REPORT: National League Two Division North: Luctonians 31-20 Stockport

This was a much improved performance by Stockport and they pushed the Luctonians all the way, but too many errors proved to be their undoing.

Adam Knight crossed over for the Luctonians after just three minutes with Jordan Street also scoring before half-time.

Stockport’s George Smith kept his side in the game with two first half penalties and a try from Mike Waddington just after the break put Port within a point of their hosts.

The Lucts then reclaimed the initiative scoring three more tries through Jon Hughes and two from Joe Doyle which was enough to see them home despite a late try from Stockport’s Simon Green.

Stockport Coach Matthew Bebbington said: “There were some really good things from today and there are some things to work on. Our attacking shape worked well, but it’s just noticing what option to use.

“It was frustrating to concede the first two tries as we have practiced what to do from kick-off, but two basic handling errors cost us. Also it was frustrating to see them score straight away after we got ourselves back into the game and that was due to a slight lack of understanding on our part.

“We did defend the line well and took the opportunity to attack from deep and executed it. We could have had a losing bonus point or a four try bonus point today."

Port arrived in Hereford having missed out on 80 minutes of rugby last week due to a postponement and were hoping that the rest would have reinvigorated them.

However, it didn’t seem that way as from the first attack of the match Knight gave his side the lead as he burst down the left hand side to score after a knock-on from Stockport. Louis Silver, on his return to the side, converted.

Fly-half Smith then slotted over two penalties for Port in an opening half which his side dominated in terms of possession and they were findings small gaps in the Luctonians defence, but just couldn’t find the break through.

After weathering Stockport’s pressure, the home side once again capitalised on a Stockport knock-on to score their second try of the afternoon.

From the resulting scrum, Street barged his way over to stretch the Luctonians’ lead to 14-6 at half-time with Silver pinging over the extras.

Stockport’s decision making was frustrating Bebbington, but he would have been pleased as his side added a try to the score board just after half-time.

A break from Kieran Hibbs put Port on the front foot and after holding on to the ball through patient phase play, the ball found its way to second half substitute Waddington who dived over the line to score.

This was his first appearance for 1st XV side since September after recovering from a knee injury and once again showed the impact he can have for Stockport.

Smith made it three from three kicks to reduce the score to 14-13, but straight from the restart the Luctonians took the sting out of Port’s fight back by scoring their third try of the day from another Stockport mistake.

The visitors won the Luctonians lineout, but didn’t pounce on the loose ball and from there the ball was spun wide and eventually found Hughes who used his pace to score in the corner.

The Luctonians stepped up their game further and scored two quick tries just after the hour. Doyle showed great intelligence to find a way through the Stockport defence to score his first and then six minutes later used his quick feet to get over the line for a second time and put Stockport to the sword.

Stockport weren’t going to roll over that easily though, and ended the game the stronger side by adding another try to the score sheet.

Jamie Anthony produced a looping pass which winger Myles Hall somehow managed to grasp and he raced for the line from inside his own half, but was stopped just short. Stockport were then quick in recycling the ball and Green snuck his way over.

Smith maintained his 100 per cent kicking record for the afternoon and also made a break straight from the kick-off but was forced into touch.

The Luctonians then saw the remaining minutes out to seal the win, but Stockport can take a lot of encouragement from this game and will want to take that into next week’s home encounter with Stourbridge.

Kick-Off at Headlands Road is 2:15pm.

Click here to listen to the full post-match interview with 1st XV Coach Matthew Bebbington on Stockport Rugby Club’s official AudioBoom channel.

Luctonians: Norris; Doyle, Knight, Burton, A Smith; James, Silver; Jones, Hackley, D Smith (capt); Kelly, Jaques; Watkins, Street, Marfell

Replacements: Horner, Kirkby, M Edwards, Prior, Hughes

Tries: Knight, Street, Hughes, Doyle (2)
Cons: Silver (3)

Stockport: J Edwards; Fletcher, Platt-Hughes, J Anthony, Hall; G Smith, A Green; K Hibbs, Baldwin, Marsland; C Hibbs, Roddy (capt); Gill, Millea, C Anthony.

Replacements: Longmore, Graham, Waddington, S Green, Kaciubskyji

Tries: Waddington, S Green
Cons: G Smith (2)
Pens: G Smith (2)