After ten minutes, a surprise try from nothing by Jamie Anthony - weaving and jinking through a forest of Sandal defenders - was ably converted by Josh Longmore. There followed a spate of unsuccessful probing kicks by both sides, each hoping to find a chink in the opposing defensive armour. Each team was penalised for off-side infringements leading up to the half, and with a score of 3-10, Stockport were satisfied that they were on top, and facing downhill on the restart.

It was heart-warming to see the local impartial crowd regularly offing free and friendly advice to the referee throughout the game.

A penalty against Stockport brought dissent, and resulted in a 10 metre march backwards with the further indignity of a try by Sandal prop Luke Norbury, ably weighted by his pack to drive over the line to score.

With ten minutes remaining, Sandal replacement right winger James Riley narrowly avoided being bundling into touch to win a try, supported by an accurate conversion by Jackson.

The second half was littered with frequent kicks by Stockport for distance, which only succeeded in handing the ball direct to the opposition full back’s safe hands. Jackson was quite capable of returning the ball with interest, deep into Stockport’s 22, and usually for touch.

With what proved to be at least three minutes to play to the final whistle, and one point behind at 17-16, Stockport were awarded a penalty on the Sandal 22, near the touch line. The option to kick at goal was made and when this option failed, the game was lost. When the chance of success of kicking from this point must have been low, the option for touch, and a catch and drive to score must have been the better option. When ‘take the points’ choice is made – it must count.

It seems the perennial curse of Stockport’s 1st half – 2nd half syndrome has struck again. Stockport appeared to be dominant in the first half, yet were unable to come away with the result.

An improvement in second half performance is clearly needed from Stockport, for Sale’s visit to Headland’s Road next week.