Match Reports
Morley win top two clash
Saturday 30th January 2010
Morley 20
Stockport 10
TOP-of-the-table Morley triumphed against their nearest challengers Stockport last Saturday with a decisive first-half flourish.
Stockport 10
TOP-of-the-table Morley triumphed against their nearest challengers Stockport last Saturday with a decisive first-half flourish.
Morley, without any match-play in six weeks, blasted their way into a 20-0 lead in the first 17 minutes, which must have come as quite a shock to the visitors, who had played the previous week.
Victory has give Morley a four-point lead in the title race and seen them take another step towards their promotion goal in National Three North.
Any fears of rustiness on Morley's part after the enforced layoff were dispelled within the first two minutes as winger Chris Morgan made an incisive interception to halt a Stockport surge and get Morley onto the attack.
The early Morley momentum was translated into points after six minutes as fly-half Mark Chester sold a terrific dummy before finding his captain Craig Field to charge through and score between the posts. It left Simon Bradshaw with a comfortable conversion.
The Maroons barely gave Stockport a chance for breath as they doubled the lead with a terrific solo try by Bradshaw.
He received the ball in his own half and ploughed into Stockport territory, maintaining his single-minded surge down the touchline. Faced with a couple of on-rushing defenders he chipped over their heads and won the chase to the ball before he touched down near the left upright.
Again he had no problem landing the conversion to give the Maroons a commanding 14-0 lead.
The home domination continued as they pressed forward and Stockport were penalised for an offside offence. Bradshaw added the three points to take the lead to 17-0 after just 13 minutes.
There was good movement in the Morley side, led by Field and supported by centres Liam Frost and Michael Ash. The Morley pack prevailed with fine rucking and mauling and overall were the stronger side, always the more likely to score.
Even when Stockport got their hands on the ball there was a Morley player ready to intercept. Scott Evans made good ground from his steal but Bradshaw squandered possession kicking into the hands of a grateful Stockport full-back.
Within minutes Bradshaw had redeemed his error with a successful penalty kick to give Morley a strike-rate of more than a point a minute at 20-0.
However, that's where the Morley scoring train hit the buffers and Stockport began to edge their way back into the game winning more ball from the lineout and using a strong pack to recycle the ball.
Stockport captain Dave Marwick emerged from a melee on the line to touch down in the corner. The conversion attempt by Matt Bebbington was pulled wide.
Morley's defensive capabilities were thoroughly tested at the start of the second half as Stockport tried to rally. The visitors retained possession for long periods and had Morley pinned on their line as they survived attacks from three successive scrums deep in Morley's '22.
It's no surprise that Morley have the best defensive record in the league as they collectively took all that Stockport could throw at them.
Morley did not break out of their half in the first 25 minutes of the second half and when they did it was to loud cheers from the Morley crowd. Even then it wasn't for long as errors saw Stockport win possession again. They won a lineout and after more pressure prop Tom Cruise touched down in the corner. The conversion was pulled wide.
Morley substitute Tom Gray tried to get Morley going again as he read a Stockport play and Morley made good ground with a rolling maul. But Stockport cleared the ball again.
Morley were unlucky not to make more of a good effort as Stockport full-back Steve Pearson knocked on, Liam Frost's kick and follow-up was safely smothered by Stockport. Just before the final whistle Bradshaw was taken into touch as he threatened another break.
It was a terrific effort all round by the whole Morley side, who were well organised, and are proving a match for all comers in the division.
Morley: Evans, Morgan, Frost; Ash, Bradshaw; Chester, S Dadswell; Gabriel, Darbyshire, Benn, Stannard, Chamberlain, P Dadswell, Hewetson, Field. Reps all used: Gray, Battye, Burke.
Stockport: Pearson, Newton, Cooper; Anthony, Drew; Bebbington, Rimmer; Cruise, Fuller, Anderson, Ralph, Cammuss, Hopkins, Harvey, Marwick. Reps all used: Hooley, Blackham, DeWeever.
Referee: S Penfold.
Victory has give Morley a four-point lead in the title race and seen them take another step towards their promotion goal in National Three North.
Any fears of rustiness on Morley's part after the enforced layoff were dispelled within the first two minutes as winger Chris Morgan made an incisive interception to halt a Stockport surge and get Morley onto the attack.
The early Morley momentum was translated into points after six minutes as fly-half Mark Chester sold a terrific dummy before finding his captain Craig Field to charge through and score between the posts. It left Simon Bradshaw with a comfortable conversion.
The Maroons barely gave Stockport a chance for breath as they doubled the lead with a terrific solo try by Bradshaw.
He received the ball in his own half and ploughed into Stockport territory, maintaining his single-minded surge down the touchline. Faced with a couple of on-rushing defenders he chipped over their heads and won the chase to the ball before he touched down near the left upright.
Again he had no problem landing the conversion to give the Maroons a commanding 14-0 lead.
The home domination continued as they pressed forward and Stockport were penalised for an offside offence. Bradshaw added the three points to take the lead to 17-0 after just 13 minutes.
There was good movement in the Morley side, led by Field and supported by centres Liam Frost and Michael Ash. The Morley pack prevailed with fine rucking and mauling and overall were the stronger side, always the more likely to score.
Even when Stockport got their hands on the ball there was a Morley player ready to intercept. Scott Evans made good ground from his steal but Bradshaw squandered possession kicking into the hands of a grateful Stockport full-back.
Within minutes Bradshaw had redeemed his error with a successful penalty kick to give Morley a strike-rate of more than a point a minute at 20-0.
However, that's where the Morley scoring train hit the buffers and Stockport began to edge their way back into the game winning more ball from the lineout and using a strong pack to recycle the ball.
Stockport captain Dave Marwick emerged from a melee on the line to touch down in the corner. The conversion attempt by Matt Bebbington was pulled wide.
Morley's defensive capabilities were thoroughly tested at the start of the second half as Stockport tried to rally. The visitors retained possession for long periods and had Morley pinned on their line as they survived attacks from three successive scrums deep in Morley's '22.
It's no surprise that Morley have the best defensive record in the league as they collectively took all that Stockport could throw at them.
Morley did not break out of their half in the first 25 minutes of the second half and when they did it was to loud cheers from the Morley crowd. Even then it wasn't for long as errors saw Stockport win possession again. They won a lineout and after more pressure prop Tom Cruise touched down in the corner. The conversion was pulled wide.
Morley substitute Tom Gray tried to get Morley going again as he read a Stockport play and Morley made good ground with a rolling maul. But Stockport cleared the ball again.
Morley were unlucky not to make more of a good effort as Stockport full-back Steve Pearson knocked on, Liam Frost's kick and follow-up was safely smothered by Stockport. Just before the final whistle Bradshaw was taken into touch as he threatened another break.
It was a terrific effort all round by the whole Morley side, who were well organised, and are proving a match for all comers in the division.
Morley: Evans, Morgan, Frost; Ash, Bradshaw; Chester, S Dadswell; Gabriel, Darbyshire, Benn, Stannard, Chamberlain, P Dadswell, Hewetson, Field. Reps all used: Gray, Battye, Burke.
Stockport: Pearson, Newton, Cooper; Anthony, Drew; Bebbington, Rimmer; Cruise, Fuller, Anderson, Ralph, Cammuss, Hopkins, Harvey, Marwick. Reps all used: Hooley, Blackham, DeWeever.
Referee: S Penfold.
Angela Walker Morley Observer & Advertiser
