By Claire Jones
September 13 2003

Next May, when we look back on this match, I can’t imagine we will regard it as the best of the season but I think it’s likely to be regarded as a turning point for the team. We came back from the dead in injury time - I can’t recall an away match when we’ve done that. I’m amazed I made the match - Ipswich to Stockport including 2 closed motorways and picking up my brother in Rochdale! But I made it and didn’t even need the 15 minute delay to kick off. Edgeley Park is not a natural rugby ground but it was the biggest Sharks crowd ever (8,105) and they gave their all.

In fact, their all was rather overpowering - the tenor tried his best but I don’t need opera before or during a match, the one firework was a bit sad - and why did it have to be in front of me? My eardrums are still recovering from the Edgeley Park assault! The dancing girls were keen - Independence with their lurid pink socks gave their all but again it’s not rugby!

So there I am, armed with my notebook and pen, in the Stockport Express stand, surrounded by Sharks supporters and blow me, we score in the first 4 minutes. I think it was Jon Sleightholme but the massed ranks of Saints supporters know better than me because I couldn’t see a thing in the mass of bodies. Wee Shane took an age to take the conversion - the Edgeley Park touchline proved a challenge - far too narrow a strip of turf.

Sharks came straight back at us and gained a penalty for Baxendell - “Dipping as it went over the bar” said my neighbour, “Becks would have been proud of that!” his friend added looking to the heavens for solace!

Then a disaster our rock solid scrum lost Pelliard - I think the significance of that was only realised in the second half but more of that later.

Saints continued on their way creating excellent space for Tucker to score - Sharks defence was asleep. 3-14 but still I was nervous - our ball rentention in midfield was just not good enough and Graham Bond was creating far too much havoc.

And yes, out of nothing Bond, Baxendell and Hanley created a try - 8-14. But two penalties later and we were 8-20 ahead - surely we would go into half time with a good lead? Nope, because Jos Baxendell created a try with a delicate chip for Andrew Sheridan to score.

Second half - 50 minutes of frustration and delight. Baxendell penalty - ‘oh no we’re only 18-20 ahead!’. No bother wee Shane was still playing brilliant rugby - “He’s a little gem - isn’t he?” asked my neighbour - Drahm ghosted through the Sharks defence to score and then convert - ‘phew we’re back to 18-27 ahead’.

Then we lost it - Hanley blasted over for another try - we made loads of changes, our scrum fell apart and I was chewing my pen. By now our scrum was being mullered - hesitation by Robinson, Drahm was standing too deep and we gifted a try to the Sharks pack.

And then we did it again -a try for the Sharks pack. By now our re-starts were just meat and drink for the Sharks fowards who were treating them as line-outs - 27-37 with 5 minutes to go - I was in agony - my brother delerious! He went a bit quiet when Reihana scored - lovely try when we had managed to retain the ball for a while.

Then the blackest moment of the game - not out of a maul as reported on the Official Saints site but a scrum. I saw the punch unlike the touch judge and poor Andrew Blowers. He flew out of a scrum holding his face and the reaction of the Sharks bench was a disgrace. Blowers is an honourable player and was clearly hurt . The crowd’s slow hand clap demonstrates Sharks have a lot to do to teach their fans some respect for the game and its players. Blowers, bless him, tried to rejoin the scrum but looking very wobbly legged he was led from field.
I don’t know if it galvanised the players but Grant Seeley was on and we had the bit between our teeth. Sharks’ ill discipline cost them a penalty - wee Shane scored and the Saints fans went potty!

Yet there was more time to play. As Baxendell miscued his drop goal, I yelled “Mark!” for Nick Beal - I’m sure he didn’t need my help. Bealer stuffed the ball into touch, referee Chris White blew his whistle and I went for a Stockport curry happy!

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