Sun 12 Sep 2021, 14:00
First League Game – Away at Stockport – 12th September
So we had planned for 18 players, but 3 dropped out due to illness, so we only had 15. Seems like Stockport had similar issues as they had 16 players and the two other fixtures from our division were cancelled due to lack of numbers.
As a result, we had several players out of position and not enough for a full front row so had to elect for uncontested scrums. Josh and Charlie (Houghton) were asked to alternate between wing and hooker, so we had eight in the pack, so a really big thank you to those guys.
Stockport kicked off and the ball was collected by Roan. Stockport immediately tackled high and gave away what was to be their first and by no means their last penalty. Charlie (Hyde) kicked for touch and got us a line out over half way. Rhys took the throw in, with Bruce and Dan lifting Frank superbly. The ball was spun out by Alex to Trystan and then Charlie went on a crash ball, but Stockport counter rucked. They kicked through, but Roan and Josh were covering and after a couple of rucks, Stockport were offside and we could clear our lines. A good carry from Ben gained us another penalty for a high tackle which was kicked to the corner. Catch again by Frank and a good drive from the maul got us close, with Rhys making a break. We took a scrum from a penalty, with Frank picking up at No8. He made 10 yards and Alex picked up from the ruck and darted over for the first score of the game and the first Stockport player yellow carded for back chat to the referee (0-5). Dan collected the kick off and Stockport tackled high. Stockport infringed again and we kicked the penalties to touch until we were on their line. The lineout was purring now and after Rhys took the ball from the back of the maul and crashed over for a second try – Charlie converted. (0-12 13 minutes gone).
From the restart, we collected and set up a ruck. Callum at second center broke through their line and took on their full back. The ball was quickly recycled and popped out from Trystan to Roan coming in from full back. At the resulting ruck, Stockport infringed and received a second yellow card for back chat and an additional 10 meters. The cross field kick from the line out didn’t quite come off right, but we collected the ball and another penalty for hands in the ruck. Roan took the quick penalty and with Stockport not retreating we got another. The pack went for a scrum and Charlie crashed over from 1st centre. Trystan converted (0-19, 20 minutes in).
Stockport got a player back on and started to exert some pressure in our 22 resulting in a line out about 15 meters out. They went to the front, but it wasn’t straight and we cleared from the resulting scrum. Touch missed, but Charlie Houghton got up pitch and made the tackle. As they recycled, Ben came in with an absolute hammer blow of a tackle in midfield. Both players got up, but the Stockport winger was winded and had to come off for a little bit.
From the resulting scrum, Toby got a nice pass inside to Bruce who smashed through their defence with Alex and Evan clearing out. We eventually knocked on and Stockport started making some ground, but solid defence from Josh with back row support from Dan and Ben eventually drove them into touch. After another penalty for a high tackle, first Dan, then Bruce drove up hard. Rhys then picked and went, swopping passes with Josh on the wing. Penalty for off side was then converted as only a few seconds to go (0-22).
Charlie Houghton nearly collected the kick off and Rhys managed to snaffle up the ball with the pack clearing out nicely again. The back ran it up the middle and as the play broke down, the ref brought us back for a Stockport offside. We took it quickly again and as Stockport had not retreated, we were awarded a penalty try and the offending player was given a second yellow and sent off. (0-29). Stockport rallied and began to get the ball wide and as we tired they finally managed to score in the corner (5-29). Further good work by the Stockport left winger was cut out by Toby. We gave up a penalty for offside and they put the ball into the corner. After some rucks, the No10 crashed over from short range (12-29 – 50mins).
Both teams started to show signs of tiredness and giving away penalties for offsides. Bruce counter rucked and got us the ball in our half and off the next play we got another offside penalty. Charlie tapped quickly, broke the first tackle, smashed the winger out of his way and handed off the full back to score in the right corner. A bruising beast of a run (man of the match perhaps). (12-34 – 60 mins).
From the restart, Toby cleared with a monster off a kick which Roan followed up, bringing down the full back on the half way line with a tap tackle. Dan got over the ball, so won the penalty. From the lineout we ran the ball, eventually coming back to an offside from Stockport which Charlie kicked to finish the scoring and tie up a convincing victory
