STOCKPORT used to be a soccer town, but not any more.

While the soccer club is struggling to stay in the League, the town's rugby sides are sweeping all before them.

Sale Sharks, who took over County's Edgeley Park ground three years ago, head the Premiership while just down the road at Bramhall, Stockport Rugby Club has just added the Powergen Intermediate Cup to their promotion to North One.

And this could be just the start of something big for the amateur club based at picturesque Headlands Road.

Sunday's Twickenham victory over big-boys Morley was no flash in the pan.

Chief executive Stewart Bertenshaw, a local businessman who used to play in the front row when the club was called Davenport, says their cup run is already showing signs of attracting former players back to Headlands Road.

Promotion

They are just one more promotion away from joining the likes of Sedgley Park, Manchester, Orrell and Macclesfield in the National Leagues and judging by the way their pack demolished Morley, they must be a reasonable bet to storm straight through the higher division.

Dynamo Bertenshaw is already spearheading ambitious plans to install floodlights and erect a stand for the growing band of supporters.

"The good thing is that we own our ground, don't owe money to anyone, have money in the bank and should turn in a healthy profit this season," he said.

"We are in a very strong position. Partly because we don't throw money at players and the bulk of our first team squad anyway comes from the Stockport area.

"The three players who combined so well to grab the only try of Sunday's game, Dan Eccles, Marc Smith and Ben Chadwick, were all born in the town.

"Sunday was my best day in 34 years at this club and I believe we can continue progressing towards the national leagues," said Stewart.

"Things are certainly looking good and I'm just glad we didn't get ourselves into a horrible financial mess when the game went professional."

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