Defeat to Caldy relegates Stockport

Stockport have been relegated from National League Two North despite a much improved second half performance in a 59-24 defeat to Caldy.

The away side led early on after a penalty from Gavin Roberts and tries by Benjamin Eaves, Harrison Crowe, Benjamin Jones and Matthew Lowes.

Elliot Fletcher then went over for Stockport, but John Broxson and Andrew Soutar put Caldy in complete control before the break.

Stockport performed much better in the second half and scored two early tries through Fletcher and Ollie Longmore.

John Collister and Stuart Cross added try number seven and eight for Caldy, before Craig Anthony scored a late consolation try.

Stockport scrum-half Sean Street said: “Today was disappointing considering our performance last week against Hull Ionians. We played very well and were looking to bring it into this week, but it just didn’t come for us in the end.

“We showed in the second half we can play good rugby, so for not to switch on for so long and let them run in so many points in the first half, it put us out of the game before we could even start playing.”

Double try scorer Elliot Fletcher added: “This season has been tough. It has been a struggle and in terms of learning, I think the club could do with a couple of years in National Three, build up and bounce back up.”

For Port, who have won just one National Two match this season, their stay in this division has come to an end after one year and it’s been a tough campaign for them.

This small squad has been hit by a huge number of injuries this season, but also they just haven’t been able to take control of games and see them out.

Today’s defeat to Caldy was the 11th time Stockport have conceded 40 points or more in a match so far this season and this defeat condemned their National Two fate.

Port’s early play was lacklustre, especially in defence, and they weren’t allowed to get going by Caldy. Roberts knocked over a penalty inside the first minute before Eaves crossed after evading four Stockport tackles.

On 12 minutes it was 17-0 to Caldy as Stockport lost their line out just inside their own 22 which ended with Crowe going over.

And by 25 minutes Caldy had the game as good as won, thanks to scores from Jones (again from a Stockport line-out) and Lowes who round off a clever move by the visitors which exposed Stockport’s weak defending.  

Stockport’s first real enterprise of the game came just before the half hour mark. From a rolling maul from the line-out and good work by the forwards, the ball was spread right and full-back Jonny Edwards flicked the ball to Fletcher who touched down in the corner.

But Caldy still squeezed in two more tries before the break. Broxson added the fifth try of the afternoon with ease after good turnover play by his side. Their sixth try came on the stoke of half-time as the impressive Soutar scrambled his way over by the posts after good patient phase play from the line-out.

Caldy led 45-5 at half-time with Stockport being embarrassed in front of their home crowd, but they came out looking a completely different side in the second half.

Playing with the wind certainly aided Stockport in the second period and their second try from Fletcher was a carbon copy of the first, but this time with that wind behind them, they were able to convert.

The hosts looked much the better side and scored again five minutes later as Ollie Longmore pushed his way over by the posts after good phase play five meters out by Stockport.

There was a real sense of belief from the home side, but it all seemed too little, too late and that was proved further when Collister managed to get away from three Stockport tackles effortlessly to bring the half-century of points up for Caldy.

The visitors had dominated up front in this Cheshire derby and showed their physicality once again for their final try as from rolling maul Cross went over with 11 minutes left on the clock.

More bad news soon followed for Port as fly-half George Smith was carried off after dislocating his kneecap and looks set to miss training this week.

Despite this, Stockport’s plucky second half performance continued and they were aided when Crowe was sin binned. Kieran Hibbs along with replacements Will Batterbury and Mike Kaciubksyji went close, before all being held up on the line.

Eventually they claimed a four-try bonus point as Anthony barged his way over from three metres out, but that point will prove to be little consolation for Stockport who now know they will be back in National Three next season.

Stockport still have six more games remaining of the season and they travel to Hull next Saturday. Kick-off is 3pm.

Stockport: J Edwards; Fletcher, Platt-Hughes, J Anthony, Hall;  Smith, Street;  Longmore,  Millea, Anthony; Roddy (Capt), Waddington;  K Hibbs, Marsland,  S Green.
Replacements: Graham, Broadhurst, C Hibbs, Batterbury, Kaciubskyji.

Tries: Fletcher (2), Longmore, C Anthony
Cons: Smith (2)

Caldy: Soutar; Royle, Roberts, Banks, Eaves; Broxson, B Jones; Campbell, Dowridge, Lowes; McGowan,  Collister; Crowe, Davidson, Dowler
Replacements: C Jones, Cross, Kelly, Isaacs Rushton

Tries: Eaves, Crowe, B Jones, Lowes, Broxson, Soutar, Collister, Cross
Cons: Roberts (8)
Pen: Roberts