Apart from the game against Didsbury TocH just before the recent lockdown, rugby returned to Headlands Road for the first time since last March on Saturday. There was a double header with both Stockport’s first and second teams playing against the Manchester Metropolitan University squads at Headlands Road. Both Stockport teams secured victory with impressive performances. With the Covid regulations meaning there were no scrums there was plenty of continuity in the games and both teams played good running rugby.

The second Team game was a very evenly contested affair, with Stockport taking a 3-0 lead into the second half with a penalty scored in the dying moments of the first half. A more one sided second half had Stockport scoring a try from a tapped penalty on the 5 metre line, which was duly converted for a 10-0 lead. The university came back with an unconverted try for a final score of 10-5 to Stockport.

The first team game saw a more dominant performance from the club side. The University started well with some impressive running before a try by scrum half Ali Green, which was converted by player coach Tom Eaton. Stockport established some continuity and good patterns of running and wing Matt Blackman scored after a good passing move, there was no conversion for a 12-0 lead. The students fought back with some good running and passing and a missed tackle allowed them to score to make it 10-7. Stockport prop Paul McGookin took a tap penalty and after a good run by Richard Sackville-West new recruit Ben Jones scored a try, which Eaton converted to make it 17-7 at the break

Another debutant in the second row Ed Poulson added a forth try for a 22-7 lead just after half time. Skipper Rory Austin scored after a very impressive run by new centre Seta Tataloka, Callum Owen converted. With Stockport having most of the possession and territory Tom Gardner scored after a well rehearsed line out move to take the score to 36-7 as Owen was on target again for the extra 2 points. The University made full use of their large squad and started to play some very positive running rugby, adding two more tries and a conversion to make the final score 36-19. Coaches Tom Mantell and Tom Eaton will have been pleased with the shape of Stockport’s game and good execution.

It is good to have senior rugby back on show at Headlands road and to see good use made of the new outside bar which has been completed during the lockdown. Stockport face neighbours Manchester this coming Friday night, kick off is at 7.0pm.