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Saints leave it late
Tony McArdle27 Apr - 09:47
Last minute try ensures victory in Play Off against Stockport
It was second v third playoff this week to decide who would go forward in the playoffs v Yorkshire giants Harrogate. Very warm dry conditions greeted the visitors who had beaten Saints previously away a month ago. With Saints squad changed due to prior commitments it was Stockport who were under the cosh with Saints pressuring the Port defence who held firm using their big pack Saints looked like scoring 3 or 4 times but just came up short on the final pass great defence from Stockport.
However it was Stockport who put points on the board with an excellent long range penalty just over the half way line 0-3, again Saints back on the attack thwarted by Port who threw the ball wide, forward came the shout from those both sides but the officials allowed play on and with a couple of passes back stretching the Saints defence and scoring under the sticks for a try and easy conversion 0-10 and starting to build a lead.
Things started to look ominous when another penalty opportunity was slotted between the sticks leaving Saints 0-13 down approaching the break, with the port pack defending numerous attacks on the left quick thinking Lewis Kincart picked up at a ruck spinning the ball wide and through the hands allowing Olly Dodd to score in the right corner unfortunately not converted but points on the board 5-13 at half time.
Straight from kick off Saints where dealt a blow when Stockport again scored but not converted leaving them a hill to climb 5-18. The tempo of the game started to change with powerful runs from Holmes, Clark and the Crowe brothers pilling on the pressure it was the big Stockport pack were not as quick as in the first half at getting to rucks or getting back into defensive positions a powerful run from just outside the 22 saw Oscar Crowe power over the line, converted by Baldwin to bring some hope.12-18.
Saints now started to dominate and with Holmes breaking towards the touchline only to be brought down 2m short he flipped the ball to the league’s top try scorer Joe Sanders to touch down his 32nd try of the season not converted but bringing the Saints back to 17-18. Saints now really pilled on the pressure throwing the ball along the backline where Holmes found himself room to squeeze in at the corner for a well-deserved try, Baldwin stroked the ball between the uprights and for the first time in the game Saints lead 24 -18.
Stockport danger was coming from their backs now and they themselves started to throw the ball along the backline looking for gaps sustained pressure saw the winger cut in from the wing to score beside the posts retake the lead after the successful conversion 24-25. Saints now gave everything pilling pressure on Port and when Dodd received the ball he rounded a couple of the chasing pack before cutting through the line into space before powering over from 25m out to score again in the corner, with jubilation from the home supporters as Baldwin slotted the extras 31-24,. With only 20 seconds left after the restart Saints cleared a ruck and Kincart kicked the ball off the park, a fantastic game to watch played in hot dry conditions.
Saints now face Harrogate at home next week, with the winner playing Rossendale from National 2 for a place in National 2.
However it was Stockport who put points on the board with an excellent long range penalty just over the half way line 0-3, again Saints back on the attack thwarted by Port who threw the ball wide, forward came the shout from those both sides but the officials allowed play on and with a couple of passes back stretching the Saints defence and scoring under the sticks for a try and easy conversion 0-10 and starting to build a lead.
Things started to look ominous when another penalty opportunity was slotted between the sticks leaving Saints 0-13 down approaching the break, with the port pack defending numerous attacks on the left quick thinking Lewis Kincart picked up at a ruck spinning the ball wide and through the hands allowing Olly Dodd to score in the right corner unfortunately not converted but points on the board 5-13 at half time.
Straight from kick off Saints where dealt a blow when Stockport again scored but not converted leaving them a hill to climb 5-18. The tempo of the game started to change with powerful runs from Holmes, Clark and the Crowe brothers pilling on the pressure it was the big Stockport pack were not as quick as in the first half at getting to rucks or getting back into defensive positions a powerful run from just outside the 22 saw Oscar Crowe power over the line, converted by Baldwin to bring some hope.12-18.
Saints now started to dominate and with Holmes breaking towards the touchline only to be brought down 2m short he flipped the ball to the league’s top try scorer Joe Sanders to touch down his 32nd try of the season not converted but bringing the Saints back to 17-18. Saints now really pilled on the pressure throwing the ball along the backline where Holmes found himself room to squeeze in at the corner for a well-deserved try, Baldwin stroked the ball between the uprights and for the first time in the game Saints lead 24 -18.
Stockport danger was coming from their backs now and they themselves started to throw the ball along the backline looking for gaps sustained pressure saw the winger cut in from the wing to score beside the posts retake the lead after the successful conversion 24-25. Saints now gave everything pilling pressure on Port and when Dodd received the ball he rounded a couple of the chasing pack before cutting through the line into space before powering over from 25m out to score again in the corner, with jubilation from the home supporters as Baldwin slotted the extras 31-24,. With only 20 seconds left after the restart Saints cleared a ruck and Kincart kicked the ball off the park, a fantastic game to watch played in hot dry conditions.
Saints now face Harrogate at home next week, with the winner playing Rossendale from National 2 for a place in National 2.
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