Strength in depth pays dividends for league leaders
CARLISLE ....................... 21 STOCKPORT ................... 43
STOCKPORT made the long journey to Carlisle and secured another bonus point win to maintain their lead at the top of the table after six games.
Despite missing a number of first choice players the squad strength was in evidence as young players from the second team stepped up and made a very positive statement. In particular Owen McPherson playing at flanker contributed two of Stockport’s six tries.
Ewan Holt moving to fly half made an impression with good kicking from hand, a break to set up McPherson’s first try and four conversions and a penalty.
But this was a whole team performance, with the forwards dominating in set and loose and the backs running well and keeping the Carlisle runners well covered.
Leading 7-22 at half time Stockport built the score to 7-36 before Carlisle restored some balance with two quick tries before Stockport finished strongly to make the final score 21-43.
The Stockport coaches will be pleased with this result, especially as there is more to come as accuracy improves, and there were several other scoring chances created but not converted.
Stockport put Carlisle under pressure from the kick off and from a line out made a drive to the home line, Carlisle conceded a penalty and Holt kicked the goal for a three-point lead after two minutes.
The home side then put pressure on their visitors and after a penalty kept their continuity through several phases and created space on the left to score a converted try for 7-3.
This was to be their last contribution to the score board until 66th minute. Stockport pushed on with a good run by Simon Green allowing the ball to be moved to the wing, Ben Turner kicked ahead and hooker Dom Sheratte won the race to touch down and Holt converted 7-10.
The power of the Stockport scrum was in evidence when they pushed the home side off their own scrum and the ball was moved wide for wing Dudley Southern to touch down, there was no conversion for 7-15.
On 27 minutes Holt took a Carlisle clearance kick on his own 10 m line and stepped his way through the Carlisle defenders to run into the home 22 and give a scoring pass to McPherson, Southern converted 7-22. An Alistair Green break allowed prop Tom Mantell to drive for the line but he was just held up over the line before the referee blew for half time.
Just two minutes into the second half Mantell got his try after a good line out move set Callum Hibbs on a run for the line and his offload allowed Mantell to charge the last 15 metres to score under the posts, Holt converted and the bonus point was secured with a 7-29 score line.
Green picked up from a scrum and was stopped just short of the line but McPherson was on hand to dive over and score and Holt added the extras, 7-36.
After having been very disciplined Stockport started to concede penalties and Carlisle took advantage, with a tapped penalty after Stockport held onto the ball after a tackle was moved left for a converted try 14-36.
Just minutes later Stockport fullback Callum Owen had to make a try saving tackle, but a penalty was conceded and another tapped kick was driven over the Stockport line by the Carlisle pack the conversion made it 21-36 and the ability of the Carlisle team was more accurately reflected.
Stockport were not finished as prop Tom Gardner added to his seasons tally of tries as he touched down after a drive from a line out, Holt converted to make it 21-43 at the final whistle.
Nest week is a home game against Altrincham Kersall kick off is at 3pm.