STOKE SHOW SPIRIT, BUT DALE HAVE EXTRA CLASS, WHILE LEEK ARE JUST EDGED OUT ON TRIP TO MANCHESTER
STOKE went down 62-31 at home to an impressive Rossendale outfit as they raised the curtain on their Regional One North West programme.
The visitors made a blistering start to the match, scoring four tries in the first 12 minutes, giving them a 20-3 lead.
Stoke were overwhelmed by the pace and power of their opponents, who were well marshalled by ex-scotland international Byron Mcguigan.
The onslaught was slowed with a first try for Stoke on 20 minutes.
Jamie Loska found space on the outside shoulder of his opponent and found young Jack Gosling, making his league debut, he cut inside his opposite number to score under the posts, Ciaron Shone added the conversion to make the score 20-10.
Although Stoke started to maintain a little bit more possession they still struggled to contain the fast, strong, Rossendale backs, scoring two more tries to make it 34-10 with five minutes to go before half-time.
In the closing minutes of the half Stoke managed to produce quicker ball and stretch their opponents to create a two v one, the final pass was knocked on by the defender which the referee deemed as intentional, the resulting yellow card reducing them to 14.
With Stoke on the attack the Rossendale defence remained firm and the half came to an end with a Stoke knock on.
Stoke made a strong start to the second half. A penalty was kicked to the 22 and from the lineout the forwards drove their opponents backwards, the ball was fed left for Will Sant to enter the line from fullback and score under the posts. Shone added the extras.
Despite being more competitive Stoke were unable to make the most of the few openings created and the visitors were very clinical in finishing theirs, scoring four further tries to make the score 62-17, with just over five minutes to go.
As always with this Stoke side, they keep going till the end. From a lineout, which had operated effectively all afternoon, 15 metres out, the ball was taken up the middle, James Salt making a strong carry forcing his way over the line to make the score 62-24.
The prospect of a fourth try and a losing bonus point was now a possibility.
In the final minute of the game Stoke had a lineout on the Rossendale 22.
The ball was fed to new signing, centre Tom Scragg, he made an excellent carry and off loaded the ball to Jamie Loska who found a gap, brushed off a couple of defenders to score under the posts to secure the bonus point.
LEEK lost 30-17 at Manchester in their opening Regional One North West match of the season.
Leek were under immediate pressure, conceding a try in the opening minute after a lineout on the right and going through phases, the home side scored on the left. The conversion missed but an early score gave the hosts a 5-0 lead.
On four minutes after a high tackle on the Leek 22 the Manchester fly-half had an easy opportunity to increase the lead to 8-0.
Leek needed to get their hands on the ball and retain it for a while to get into the game and it happened on 10 minutes as they passed their way into the Manchester 22.
A knock on from Manchester and Leek had a scrum on the right, deep in the 22 and as the ball came along the line Rob Mcdermott burst thought two would-be tacklers to score Leek’s opening try under the posts. Joe Byrne converted, and the score moved to 8-7 on 12 minutes.
On 21 minutes, a scrum in their own 22, allowed Manchester’s backs to have a go wide right and they carved open the Leek defence for the wing to score in the righthand corner. The conversion missed but it was a lesson the Leek backs needed to heed in defence, as their opponents looked dangerous on the break.
Then came the move of the day and Leek’s second try on 27 minutes.
A high tackle gave Leek a penalty on halfway on the left. Joe Byrne took a quick tap, danced his way around three or four tacklers across field down to the Manchester 22 before offloading to the backs and some slick handling gave Kin Critchlow the space to round the last defender and score on the right.
A superb try and one which left the home team stunned as Joe Byrne converted to hand Leek the lead at 13-14.
On 33 minutes, Jack Newton Taylor was yellow carded, but Leek held on to the lead until half-time.
The second half opened with Leek playing well and retaining possession and on 46 minutes won a penalty outside the 22 which was enhanced 10 metres into the 22. Joe Byrne converted, and Leek led 13-17.
It was to be the high point for Leek in this game as the hosts then turned the screw.
On 56 minutes, a quick tap penalty from a lineout against Leek and the defence was breached with good support. The conversion was good, and the score moved to 20-17.
Five minutes later and another try after an offside decision allowed the Manchester forwards to power towards the line before crashing over for bonus point try. The conversion was good, and Manchester led 27-17.
On 67 minutes, Leek’s scrum was penalised for coming up and the simple penalty increased the lead to 30-17.
Leek were in danger of succumbing in the last 13 minutes, but the way the players held together, defending strongly and competing at every opportunity meant they had belief and in a frantic last three minutes, won three penalties in a row to set up a lineout on the Manchester fivemetre line.
Good control and several phases gave the Moorlanders the opportunity to find a gap in the strong Manchester defence, but it held firm and disappointingly, the game ended without Leek picking up a deserved one or two points.
SANDBACH’S hopes of making a fast start to their Regional Two North West season were dashed as they lost 41-19 at home to Burnage.
Sandbach’s squad included some experienced players as well as some fresh young talent.
Debuts were given to hooker Will Bowbeer and winger Matt Randle, both graduates from last season’s senior colts.
Burnage got proceedings underway and it was a breathless opening 10 minutes with both teams getting their hands on the ball.
Burnage got the first points on the board when a little chip kick was regained and Elliott Morris, Sandbach’s speedy winger, couldn’t stop the sprint to the line.
Sandbach had to make their first change of the afternoon when injured prop Max Beadle was replaced by Archie Lea.
A few minutes later and they were nursing another injury, this time captain Jimmy Gore was the one to leave the field to be replaced by Fraser Ashman.
Burnage increased their lead after a penalty and a yellow card for Sandbach gave them a lineout five metres out. A quick slip pass on the attack and they went over for the second time. After 32 minutes the score was 12-0.
Sandbach needed to keep a foot in the game and a quick tap and go penalty by Morris got the attack moving. Morris was tackled but the ball found its way to Ryan Arundale who slipped through for the try.
Sandbach kept up the momentum and Ashman bounced off tackles on the wing as they pushed on. A penalty was awarded and an extra 10 metres was given for dissent.
Scrum-half Laurie Essenhigh went quickly but this time Burnage got the penalty to end Sandbach’s attack.
Burnage opted for a quick penalty and moved the ball out wide. Knowing that the clock had turned red, they attempted to kick the ball out only to miskick and it remained in play. They frantically chased the ball before finally ending the half at 12-7.
In the second half, Harry Leese made a spectacular solo run to breakthrough Burnage’s defence and a dummy pass left the defence floundering.
He had support but didn’t need it as another sidestep left him clear to score under the posts. After the successful second conversion by Henry Mitchell, Sandbach were back in the game at 14-12.
Burnage took the lead again shortly after when their inside centre scored and they increased it further after 56 minutes when their full-back ran under the posts leaving the scores at 26-14.
Burnage picked up a yellow card for tackling a player in the air and the penalty left Sandbach with a lineout five metres out.
The referee called once when the maul failed to move but the determination of Josh Brookes and replacement Tom Holmes drove it on. The ball made it into Essenhigh’s hands and he slipped through to score.
That would be Sandbach’s final score of the afternoon. They held their own up until this point and stayed in the game for as long as they could, but Burnage kept on advancing. A penalty five minutes later would increase their lead by three before two final tries ended the match.
STAFFORD were edged out 18-15 on home turf by Spartans in Counties One Midlands West North.
The opening phases of the match were fairly even as both teams earned minor successes across the pitch.
The sizeable Spartans forwards were producing a strong scrum forcing the home side to dig in deep and look for a counter.
Slowly the visitors started to seize a transient momentum and some tenacious spoiling play coughed out a loose ball.
The men in black seized the opportunity, propelling the ball up the pitch for the first try of the afternoon.
Stafford settled back into the game creating some half-chances of their own, eventually earning a penalty for Will Turner cut the deficit.
Both teams continued to have their moments as the play swung changed hands between the sides.
But it was the accuracy of the Spartans boot which provided the punishment with two penalties contributing towards a growing lead.
The first period of play dwindled into a slight stalemate in which Spartans had edged the play and exploited any points on offer.
Stafford went into half-time trailing 13-3, but looking for the spark in an evenly-matched encounter.
Spartans came crashing into the second half with some bruising rugby which drove the ball up the pitch.
Stafford held out several very determined attacks until the force of the swarming Spartan hoard took their second try of the afternoon.
Working hard for each other the county town team started to play their best rugby of the afternoon.
It was now the visitors forced back into defence as the use of the previously dominant scrum was eventually blunted.
With the forwards battering some holes open the Stafford backs started to cause some mischief.
Quick thinking from Jerry Qasenivalu launched the ball over the heads of the opposition and he was only a finger tip away from collecting for a try.
All of the play was with the Blackberry Lane XV and some effective drives set a solid base for the back line to explode.
Silky hands shredded the defence into tatters and Henry Perks cruised across the line for a try.
The game then descended into a slightly disjointed affair with turnovers on both sides smothering any continuity or rhythm.
Settling back into an attacking role, Stafford spurned the offer of an in-range penalty to establish a line out deep in opposition territory.
A well drilled set piece plucked the ball out of the air and Hugo Sutton peeled off the back to carry the opposition over the line for a try, converted by Will Turner.
With five minutes on the clock and a three-point gap it became a desperate affair for everyone.
A Spartans penalty could have re-established a buffer, but the previous accuracy deserted the visitors as it sailed wide of the posts.
Stafford finished with a flourish by cranking up the running game and making very hard yards to move out of their own half.
But a defiant Spartans defence proved equal to the task and absorbed all of the late ambition until the referee’s whistle brought an end to proceedings.
LONGTON opened their Counties Two Midlands West (West) season with a 30-22 at Luctonians thirds.
The match started off at a frenetic pace, with Charlie Rushton charging through the opposition for the first score of the game.
Despite these efforts, the opposition managed to pull away in the first half with smart play and timely scores, taking control and racking up points early on. Bringing a close to the first half with the home side leading 22-5.
Longton found themselves trailing, but Carl Williams provided a much-needed spark by charging through the opposition and crossing the line for the second try. Grant Hallam’s accurate conversion brought the score closer, keeping Longton within touching distance.
As the game progressed, Jake Boatfield powered his way through the defence for a second try, showcasing both his strength and determination. Hallam once again slotted the conversion, narrowing the deficit to keep the team in the contest.
Hallam added a crucial penalty late in the game to bring the score to 25-22, but despite several attacking phases in the dying moments, Longton couldn’t close the gap further.
Though they fought valiantly, it wasn’t enough to secure the win as the home side managed a further score bringing the final score to 30-22.