Stockport RUFC v Penrith North 1 West Saturday 23 April 2022.

Stockport completed an unbeaten league season on Saturday by winning their final fixture away at Penrith. In a hard fought game Penrith prevented Stockport securing a bonus point but the League winners secured a 12-19 victory to make it 25 out of 25 and with one walk over to finish with 124 League points . On their way to this unprecedented achievement for the club 36 players were used, 926 points were scored with only 252 against and 144 tries were scored. Clapped onto the pitch by the touring Stockport U12 teams the squad found this final fixture was a real challenge. Penrith provided very strong opposition, particularly through their backs, who always looked dangerous. However as we have come to expect with this Stockport group, they stayed focussed and disciplined despite Penrith opening the scoring and finishing strongly. The Stockport forwards were dominant, particularly in their execution of the rolling maul and they had possession and territorial advantage for much of the game, but the Penrith defence was determined and they held Stockport up over the line on two occasions and forced potential scorers into touch twice. The coaches and players have worked very hard and fully deserve their unbeaten status and league title. This group along with those who have put the Second XV near the top of their league have a positive future as they move to a higher level next season.

Penrith played with the very strong wind behind them in the first half but Stockport immediately gained the upper hand in the forwards with a strong scrum and a 20 metre driving maul, gaining a penalty which took them into the Penrith 22. At the line out Penrith did not compete and were awarded a scrum as Stockport were accidentally offside. From the scrum a long clearance kick resulted in a knock on by Stockport and Penrith took advantage from the ensuing scrum and moved the ball wide to the right wing who scored an unconverted try to take the home side into a 5-0 lead after 15 minutes. Following the restart Penrith used the wind to gain a 50/22 line out and their drive was stopped and Stockport turned the ball over to prevent another score. Good continuity by Stockport created a scoring chance but as the pass went into touch the referee called play back for a high tackle on Rory Austin. It was the first of a series of penalties against Penrith that allowed Stockport to set up a drive for the home line and prop Tom Gardner touched down, Callum Owen converted to take Stockport into a 5-7 lead, with 10 minutes of the half left. In the last play of the half a loose ball on half way was hacked on by Penrith and their fly-half who was several metres offside picked up and ran into score under the posts and the try was allowed so Penrith ended the half 12-7 ahead.

Stockport started the second half strongly, centre Setariki Talatoka was stopped just short and Stockport opted for a scrum for a penalty 5 metres out, there was a strong drive and Austin fed flanker Ed Poulson who forced his way over under the posts for Owen to convert and give the visitors a 12-14 lead. There was some dangerous running by the Penrith backs, with both the half backs, the inside centre and fullback all making threatening runs but the Stockport defence held firm, although fullback Callum Owen had to leave the pitch dazed after a tackle on the Penrith scrum half. A planned move from a line out had Poulson attacking the Penrith line and the recycled ball was moved left via Austin for Talatoka to run in for the try, with no conversion Stockport had a 7 point lead going into the last twenty minutes. Penrith continued to threaten but the Stockport defence kept play generally in mid field. As the final minutes began Tom Eaton made a huge clearance of 80 metres and a good Stockport attack from the line out looked to have put No 8 Simon Green in wide out but he was held up for a goal line drop out. Eaton collected and with less than a minute to go just missed a drop goal. Penrith took a quick tap drop out on the 22 and ran well, tapping two penalties they took play into the Stockport 22, playing in overtime there was real pressure on the Stockport line but the defence forced a knock to end the game and clinch the unbeaten record.