Stockport’s 1st XV returned to a sun baked Headlands Road on Saturday for their latest National League 2 fixture against Bromsgrove. With both teams making a similar starts to the season and having been promoted from their respective Leagues it was no surprise that the game remained scoreless until just before half time. The scoring did not make it a dull period of play. Stockport started brightly and were over the line within 2 minutes only for the try to be disallowed. Stockport French centre Mike Bayssatt was yellow carded after 20 minutes but Bromsgrove declined the easy 3 points on offer and chose to run the ball right and the Stockport’s defence held.
Stockport’s Josh Longmore finally got the scoreboard moving 2 minutes before the break with a penalty but virtually from the restart he made a clean break through the visitor’s line and had hooker Tom Cruse in support on his outside to receive his pass to beat the full back. With a Longmore conversion Stockport had secured a 10-0 half time lead.
Josh Longmore received further applause 3 minutes into the second half when his kick to the corner from the half way line put his forwards in a great line out position near to the Bromsgrove line. They didn’t let him down. They secured the ball and drove up to and over the line with flanker Nick Smith touching down for his 7th try of the season. The conversion was added. 17-0
The 62nd minute brought Stockport’s best try of the day. It started with fly Alex Zavallis-Roebuck putting in a delicate chip ahead. This was caught by wing Jamie Anthony who off loaded outside to Mike Bayssatt. Baysatt made progress up the wing and passed inside to Tom Cruse. He was tackled but avoided knocking the ball on and Greg Newton ran through, scoop up the ball and ran in to score. Josh Longmore added another long range conversion 24-0 and secured him the vote for man of the match.
The last 10 minutes of the game belonged to the visitors as they scored two converted tries. With the conversion of the second try being the last kick of the day they turned out to be no more that consolation points. 24-14

Captain Dave Marwick will take his men on the long trip to Westoe in the North East this Saturday for what will be his 109th consecutive game. More importantly it will be for what he hopes will be Stockport’s first away win of the season.