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Match Report- Stoke v Manchester
RACHEL Bailey2 Oct 2024 - 13:12
Match Report by Mike Yorke
Stoke 15 Manchester 20
Stoke failed to gain their first win of the season in a closely fought, entertaining match against Manchester. As last week, this was a game of two halves.
Stoke failed to collect the kick off cleanly and conceded a scrum with a knock on twenty five metres out. From the scrum Manchester maintained possession through several phases, eventually scoring in the left hand corner, the score was well converted making the early score 0-7. Manchester dominated the early play and extended their lead with a penalty. With thirty minutes gone Stoke were still struggling to maintain any meaningful possession and the visitors scored another penalty to go 0-13 up. As the half moved into the last ten minutes Manchester’s dominance was rewarded with a second try close to the posts, leaving Stoke 0-20 down. It was the last minute of the half before Stoke managed a meaningful attack. Several carries by the forwards took them to within a metre of the try line but were eventually penalised for holding on, bringing the half to an end.
Whatever was said at half time had the desired effect. After a couple of dominant scrums the ball was sent wide to the right for Manu Shute to beat his man and score in the corner. Stoke were dominating the early stages of the half and scored their second try after sixteen minutes. The forwards were held up over the Manchester line which forced the visitors to drop out from under the posts. Jack Barry Neal collected the kick and made a powerful run into the heart of the defence, putting the visitors on the back foot, the ball was moved left and then right for winger Manu Shute to again beat his man and score in the corner. The conversion was missed to make the score 10-20. Stoke continued to pressurise and scored a third try with five minutes to go. Will Sant scoring, after Manu Shute was tackled close to the line. The conversion went wide making the score 15-20 with just a few minutes left. Excitement grew when the Stoke forwards managed to draw a penalty at a Manchester scrum, the penalty was taken quickly but the Manchester defence were able to regain possession when Stoke were penalised for holding on. This gave the visitors the opportunity to run the clock down to finish the game 15-20.
A game that could have gone our way on another day. No game next week. Kendal away in two weeks and as always the players will appreciate any support.
Stoke failed to gain their first win of the season in a closely fought, entertaining match against Manchester. As last week, this was a game of two halves.
Stoke failed to collect the kick off cleanly and conceded a scrum with a knock on twenty five metres out. From the scrum Manchester maintained possession through several phases, eventually scoring in the left hand corner, the score was well converted making the early score 0-7. Manchester dominated the early play and extended their lead with a penalty. With thirty minutes gone Stoke were still struggling to maintain any meaningful possession and the visitors scored another penalty to go 0-13 up. As the half moved into the last ten minutes Manchester’s dominance was rewarded with a second try close to the posts, leaving Stoke 0-20 down. It was the last minute of the half before Stoke managed a meaningful attack. Several carries by the forwards took them to within a metre of the try line but were eventually penalised for holding on, bringing the half to an end.
Whatever was said at half time had the desired effect. After a couple of dominant scrums the ball was sent wide to the right for Manu Shute to beat his man and score in the corner. Stoke were dominating the early stages of the half and scored their second try after sixteen minutes. The forwards were held up over the Manchester line which forced the visitors to drop out from under the posts. Jack Barry Neal collected the kick and made a powerful run into the heart of the defence, putting the visitors on the back foot, the ball was moved left and then right for winger Manu Shute to again beat his man and score in the corner. The conversion was missed to make the score 10-20. Stoke continued to pressurise and scored a third try with five minutes to go. Will Sant scoring, after Manu Shute was tackled close to the line. The conversion went wide making the score 15-20 with just a few minutes left. Excitement grew when the Stoke forwards managed to draw a penalty at a Manchester scrum, the penalty was taken quickly but the Manchester defence were able to regain possession when Stoke were penalised for holding on. This gave the visitors the opportunity to run the clock down to finish the game 15-20.
A game that could have gone our way on another day. No game next week. Kendal away in two weeks and as always the players will appreciate any support.
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