Stockport 4's were again the main attraction, as the only team at home as they faced off against visitors Carrington in their latest league match. With Storm Buelo wreaking havoc all over the country, the home side still rocked up with 22 players looking for a game and these numbers were further bolstered with the late additions of back row Owen Houghton and centre Chris Seal, but DEFINITEL Y more on him later. The 4's also gave another run out to senior Colt & No.8 Roan Hill and he was joined by junior Colt Max Jackson, set to make his senior debut from the bench. With regular skipper Conor Osbiston seconded to the 3's and usual stand in Ged Gurney unavailable, it was left to centre Keith Warhurst to take the reins as well as forming part of surely the oldest centre partnership on display with Andy Albinson at 13. Luckily the rest of the backs line had an average age of 22 so there was plenty of running, should it be required.

The weather had also taken its affect on the Stockport changing rooms with a leaky roof ,so it was decided that our 24 players would cram into the smaller 1's changing room whilst allowing the 13 players of Carrington to have the biggest changing room available (and the one closest to the HOT showers). The first decision made by the skipper was that we weren't going to go out and warm up too early as we'd all get drenched, so it was decided that we would wait indoors and not venture outside until we had to. Given that the opposition had made the trip with only 13 players, it was decided to lend them 2 to even things up. Fortunately these 2 were Alex Ward and James Dawson, who brilliantly agreed to step up however the opposition were probably glad it was not the Squirrel King Kev McCarthy who, during the warm up run through had managed to fall over nothing and end up on his arse in the middle of the pitch.

The game then kicked off with Stockport playing into the wind, and to say it was like being stood on the deck of the Titanic was an understatement!! The Carrington No.10 had clearly decided to use the weather, combined with his boot and kept us pinned back into our own 22 for majority of the opening 15 minutes. Stockport did not help themselves with a number of unforced errors however this was to be expected given the weather conditions. What was not to be expected (and I'm still not sure how this happens and how legal it is ) but we also managed to lose our own UNCONTESTED scrum at one point!! Carrington were first on the scoreboard with a converted try but the home side were still fighting for everything, in the face of unbelievable weather conditions and it was to their credit that they managed to get back into the game. Carrington were rocked onto their heels by the relentless carrying of Hill and he was then joined by a number of other forwards including hooker Tyron Walker and flanker James Beard and they drove into the heart of the home side. The ball was then fed out to fly half Rhys Warhurst who's delicate grubber kick bamboozled the visiting full back, and was hacked ahead by full back Joe Laxton giving Rhys the easiest of tries as he flopped over the line onto the ball and it was now 5-7 with a narrowly missed conversion. With the referee already agreeing with Carrington to play 30 minute halves, this was how the half ended and the ref signalled the end of the first period.

Having done their stint for the opposition, Dawson and Ward swapped with Albinson and flanker Connor Coveney-Winter and further subs saw Chris Seal into the centres replacing Albinson, with Max Crabtree, Jackson, Houghton & McCarthy now also into the fray as Stockport set about getting back into the game, now being wind assisted. Now you will note how often I have mentioned the weather and being wind assisted for the kickers??? Clearly this did not compute for Rhys who decided to reverse the kick off and play for unmarked territory. Unfortunately the territory he aimed for was the rear garden of a house on the main road and he spanked the ball as hard as he could and we ended up with a scrum restart on the half way. Such was the disbelief of Beard to Rhys's kick, he then decided to copy his mate McCarthy and fall over nothing leaving him on the floor like an upturned tortoise however he was later to redeem himself as he barged his way over the line to give Stockport a narrow 10-7 lead.

With the home side now in the ascendency, and 'enjoying' the use of the weather it was surely only a matter of time before they scored the next try, which would clearly see them pull away. Enter into the action Chris Seal, a man known for his tough running and ability to sniff out a try. Now with a name like Seal, you'd think the weather conditions would have been perfect for him as he raced through the midfield and onto a lovely offload from scrum half Olly McAleer. There is no better sight than seeing a team mate racing for the line, knowing he's going to score and knowing it will probably secure the win. Cheered on by his team, he raced past the last defender and all he needed to do was dot the ball down for his try.......however at the point where he decided to dive for the line, the ball then appeared from underneath his arm and the only thing in his hands as he plunged over the line was his head!!!! Cue copious amounts of laughter from both sides along with the immortal line of, "what are the chances a Seal doesn't like it wet!!" With still only 3 points in it, Carrington were back onto the attack and with a kickable penalty awarded, it was now 10-10 with the clock running down. It wasn't the only thing running down as Dave Holehouse, complete with customary flip flops and shorts was watching from his electric car and forgot that power drains so now his car was run down and he couldn't leave.

Stockport gave it one last go, and the ball was punted into the corner by Rhys to be chased once again by Laxton. Again the Carrington full back didn't seem to know what was happening and again Laxton got there first and played a lovely through ball for Rhys to flop onto, and with Laxton tagging on the extras it was now 17-10. To their credit. Carrington did not give up and Stockport had now made further subs with Gordon Fenton, husband of the destroyer of words on to the field along with Alex Ward and Andrew 'Ding' McLoughlin. It was Ding who showed some excellent footballing skills as he fielded the kick off with a deft touch and trucked the ball up, an act he tried to repeat later on however this time he dislocated his finger and was forced from the field. With one last Carrington attack, the referee's whistle signalled a holding on penalty to Stockport, and you can imagine the surprise when it was Ward who emerged with the ball. He too looked equally as surprised and I'm still not certain if it was his turnover or someone gave him the ball afterwards, like a present for a prize winner. With that the ball was smacked into touch, only for the referee to decide their was time for the line out which turned into a comedy of errors but ended up with the ball in touch and with that, the final whistle bringing a hard fought 17-10 win for Stockport.

Onto the awards and there were a number of people putting their hand up for Player of the Match. Firstly, any of the 4 lads who agreed to play for the opposition (James, Alex, Andy and Connor) as well as Max Jackson for making his senior debut and Roan Hill for his repeated carrying however with 2 tries (and neither of them being dropped), the award this week has to go to Rhys Warhurst.

The much more coveted Dick of the Day and before we reach the overwhelming winner, a few mentions for others lucky that Seal was playing. First James Beard and Kev McCarthy for falling over nothing, especially Beard who was heard to exclaim, "please don't put that in the match report." Rhys is a worthy mention for his punt into oblivion whilst Keith is also up there for repeatedly telling people to keep hold of the ball then throwing it away himself. Wing Theo McCumskey for playing the whole game in his Stockport waterproof under his match shirt and Ding for dropping a kick off, dislocated finger or not. Non playing Dave Holehouse for needing jump leads is a shout however...........when something happens so funny that both teams are laughing, when its very wet and you are a Seal, when you congratulate Rhys for his try bailing you out of the shit and for EVERY single Stockport player commenting, "we're safe now as we know who is getting DOTD" it has to be Chris Seal