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’Port back on track

15/12/2004

North Two West
Stockport 45
Blackburn 0

TIM Burgon's young Stockport side catapulted themselves back into the North Two West promotion race with a 45-0 win over relegation threatened Blackburn.

In the absence of Andy Wrathall, Mike Raven was handed the captain's armband with Steve Williams and Rob Wellock returning to the starting XV.

And Stockport got off to the perfect start as Ben Kerr, Wellock and Tom Mantell combined well in a move which resulted in Colin Nevett scoring the first of his sides seven tries.

Shortly before the quarter hour mark, Kerr combined with Dave Holehouse to engineer a break which Ben Chadwick finished off as 'Port began to treat the spectators to a rugby master-class.

The third try was remarkable, even by the high standards set by the game as the ball travelled through at least a dozen sets of hands before Ben Dawson was put through the narrowest of gaps to score under the posts.

Chadwick finally found his kicking boots to add the two points and with 30 minutes played, Stockport were 17-0 ahead.

The pressure on the visitors line was unceasing and shortly before the break Stockport added another try when Nick Royle was driven over the line, Chadwick added the extra for a 24-0 half time lead.

Blackburn enjoyed their best spell of the game as the second period got underway but were unable to open their account and Stockport absorbed the pressure before responding with Tony Wood's converted score.

South African Bertram Johnson was introduced to the game and during his time on the pitch the home side added two further tries.

The first ended with Wellock going under the posts for a try on his return to the side and moments later Ed Fanning galloped over after Nevett had slipped him the ball 35 yards out. Chadwick added another two points to end a remarkable game for Stockport.

And with results elsewhere going Stockport's way, the top four teams in the league are now locked on 16 points with 11 games played and 11 remaining as the promotion race heads for one of the most exciting climaxes in recent times.