New Year...Old Habits!!

With the start of the New Year, came the players of an old adversary, Stockport RFU. They were not able to play this fixture at their ground due to poor pitches and so we found an area over the brook at Grove Park that was suitable for us to play on and set up stall for what we knew was to be a tough encounter against our friends at Stockport. Because of the numbers of players it was decided to have 10 minute games to allow all players the chance to run off those Xmas cobwebs.

Game 1:
MRC 0v20 Stockport

Game 1 saw both sides putting up a strong team with Manchester winning the toss and electing to start with the ball. It was time to see if Manchester had learned anything from last season's mauling at the hands of Stockport and the players did not disappoint. Good solid rugby and a strong scrummaging ethic saw Manchester being able to match Stockport in the first quarter of the match. Both sides defended well with turn over after turn over being nullified at the next breakdown area. Something had to give though and with Josh getting isolated and the ball lost, Stockport strung together some great passes to run in the first try of the day, into Manchester's corner. Right form the restart Manchester came right back at Stockport and good linkage saw James moving ever closer to the Stockport line. Again, isolation in attack was the Manchester downfall and once Stockport had ball in hand their own wide play allowed them to move the ball effortlessly passed the Manchester team and over for try No:2. Tries 3 and 4 were also made easy for Stockport who had ground down the Manchester forwards, making the ball there own time and time again though Manchester were the team guilty of coughing the ball up too many times and the game drifted away from Manchester though, a much better final quarter saw the Manchester players still pressing for that illusive first try.

Game2:
MRC 10v0 Stockport

The key to success was for Josh to use his vision and spread the ball out to the ever willing runners of James, Charles, Will, Eddie and the others, and Game 2 saw this in abundance. Manchester made 5 changes to the starting line up and the boys again stepped up to the plate to face a largely changed Stockport 9. Psycho Dan was the first to see the try line with great ball skills as Manchester sprayed passes left and right in an attempt to square the series 1 all. This time it looked different, Manchester were able to control the game and put Stockport on the back foot again and again. Stockport, without their first string players were not able to find the gaps and break Manchester down and the forward work rate from Manchester was unmatchable as time and time again a Manchester player came up with the ball, allowing Josh to spin long passes to willing runners out wide. Though Stockport tackled themselves silly, it was inevitable that Josh would go over to record a win to Manchester, 2 tries to nil to level the 4 game series going into Game 3.

Game 3:
MRC 0v20 Stockport

Game 3 saw Manchester again rotating their players with playing time for the new recruits of Tom and Joshua being recorded. Stockport, seeing the series levelled, reverted to their tried and tested first choice players and the mismatch was their from the off. Though no match for the Stockport elite, the Manchester boys always kept their heads up and took the game to Stockport whenever they were able to. It was in the tackle that the differences were keenly felt in this match, with Manchester guilty of pushing rather than tackling and this allowed the opposition the opportunity to never really feel threatened throughout the match, coming in worthy winners at 4 scores to none.

Game 4:
MRC 5v10 Stockport

Could Manchester come back again to level the series in the last match of the day? The Manchester coaches used a full rotation programme throughout the game with every player getting some more game time. This seemed to unnerve the Stockport team as they never knew what was going to be coming at them, experience or enthusiasm, tackle or tickle! Manchester took the lead in Game 4 but Stockport came straight back from the restart and ran straight through a dumbfounded Manchester defence. Game on and what a last quarter it was. Manchester were encamped on the Stockport goal line and the Stockport coaches were genuinely worried as they cried foul play at every opportunity, real or imaginary!! In the final moments, Eddie went over, but unsighted, the ref had to rely on the Stockport touch judge who ruled it not placed down and so a scrum was awarded to Stockport on their 5 metre line. The Manchester forwards had given their all in these last few minutes but this was one push too much with Stockport alive to this fact. They won the ball with a great push and their scrum half, who had impressed throughout, winged a sharp, crisp pass out wide and Stockport were away. First Josh was rounded, then Charles bludgeoned out of the way, finally it was down to James, could he slow the Stockport charge enough to allow the forwards a chance to recover and get back to defend.....? Sadly it was not to be as the tackler was able to offload and run in for victory as the final whistle went on an exciting day of rugby.

During all 4 games, we were able to see improvements that we can work on with the boys. From a 50v0 scoreline last year, the entire Manchester squad should be proud of their own achievements today. The action points now are for doing what we are doing but using continual improvement as our motivation.

Todays mighty Manchester players were, (tries in brackets): Josh (1), Eddie, Charles, Will, Tom, Tom Mc, Harrison (1), Ollie, Myles, Ethan, Dan (1), Joshua, Hanuf, Matthew, Nathan, James, Fin, Max.

Broughton Park next week, be prepared for cold weather!!

Thanks,

Ian