STOCKPORT RUFC V DOUGLAS (ISLE OF MAN) NORTH 1 WEST SAT 1/2/20
Stockport completed a comprehensive 45-15 victory over visitors Douglas to make it 4 wins in a row. It was a good performance all round with the tries coming from both well controlled forward play and good passing moves, backed up by a continually improving defence. Douglas played with a very strong wind in their favour in the first half but it was Stockport who dominated possession and territory, getting an early score, however Douglas did take advantage of their rare visits to the Stockport 22 and at the break it was 12-8 to the home side. In the second half Stockport took full advantage of the wind and scored 5 tries to a second by Douglas. Despite the wind Harry Rapley was mostly on target with his conversions to complete the high scoring victory.
After 6 minutes wing Josh Schofield showed real pace to run into the Douglas 22, as he was stopped short of the line, the follow up was good and hooker Paul McGookin got the touch down to go 5-0 up. it was another 10 minutes before Douglas made their first visit to the Stockport 22 and they came away with an unconverted try after stealing a line out and driving over for 5-5. A deliberate knock gave Douglas a penalty, which they converted to go ahead 5-8. With just over 10 minutes to half time No 8 Ryan Hanson scored the first of his two tries as he finished off a good passing move started by good running from Schofield and Rapley and the recycled ball moved across to the left by 3 good passes to allow Hanson to touch down. Rapley converted despite kicking into the strong wind and Stockport were 12-8 up.The Stockport scrum was dominant in the set and a number of other chances were created but it was Douglas who put on the pressure in the last 10 minutes of the half. A good Douglas attack was stopped with a last ditch tackle causing a knock on only 5 metres out and a penalty giving a line out close to the line gave the visitors another attacking chance but Stockport stole the line out and cleared. Having played into such a strong wind and finishing the half on top it looked good for Stockport for the second period.
Stockport started the half well and soon increased their lead with a penalty try after good pressure by the Stockport set scrum, 19-8. Stockport used the wind well and another drive for the Douglas line saw substitute lock James Shaw held up over the line and the set scrum was driven over for Hanson to get his second try with good control at the back of the scrum. With the conversion by Rapley, Stockport had a 26-8 lead and a bonus point. After Shaw was again held up over the Douglas line following more good pressure, Simon Green ripped a ball on the half-way line and ran the full 50 metres to beat the Douglas defenders and score under the posts Rapley added the easy conversion, 33-8. The Douglas kick off did not go 10 metres and from the scrum Hanson fed skipper Rory Austin and he made the 50 metre run to score, there was no conversion to make it 38-8. Douglas added to their score after some good pressure with a try near the Stockport posts but it was only a consolation as a moment of individual skill by substitute Stockport wing Ben Turner added another try. He chased his own kick ahead and won the race for the touch down and with Rapley converting from the touchline Stockport finished up 45-15 winners.
Now at 6th place in the table Stockport travel to Vale of Lune next week to play the team in 10th place.
This weeks photos were taken by Simon Arrowsmith