Sun 23 Oct 2022, 14:00
The Eccles Colts put their NW Colts League campaign on hold to advance to the Semi Final of the County Colts Trophy with a dominant second-half display against Aldwinians on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors made a bright start, opening the scoring with a penalty in the third minute and succeeded in keeping Eccles contained inside their own territory for the first 10 minutes. Eccles retained possession well but when thier work rate and passing failed to provide them with a succesful break out, accurate kicking from Fly Half Leighton finally released the attack and moved the game onto the edge of Aldwinains 22. Penalites resulted in some good work from the forwards with the pack dominant in the scrum and Ollie's handling assured in the line out. Although Eccles were missing several players the flexibilty and fitness in the squad had once again proven to be a great asset when deploying forwards to positions all around the pitch. Tom K had to depart the field during the first half after suffering a broken knuckle and ligament damage to a finger and Eccles shuffled its pack moving Ollie to 8 and bringing Josh on at blindside without any loss in forward momentumn. Chayse ran some great hard lines, Leighton was doing his level best to orchestrate play but with limited options he was regularly smashed in possession, Chas made a good job of distributing the ball at stand in scrum half, Alex enjoyed a rock solid game at full back. Although Eccles were often slow to protect their own ball at the breadown and were mostly chaotic in thier play they were able to build sustained attacking pressure on Aldwinains, eventually resulting in a try from the ever persistent Alex to the right of the uprights, who claimed the extras with an assured conversion. 7-3. Just before half time Matt H, starting at centre, broke through the defensive line on the right and raced in towards the posts to score, making the conversation a little easier for Alex. HT 14-3.
Eccles made full use of their available replacements at the break introducing fresh legs and a more familar formation. Mo, back in the line-up after injury, entred the game at centre alongside James and was immeadiatley effective crashing through the middle at pace and unlucky not to break free to score at the embankment end early in the half. Aldwinians slotted home another penalty but this was the nearest they came to collecting points. Eccles were now playing with more confidence and it was the Sharks Academy Back Row Matt H who powered through the defence, carrying two defenders with him and stretching out to down the ball over the line for the third try. 21-6. The Eccles attack and the Aldwinians determined defence continued. Eccles opted to keep the scoreboard ticking over with a straight forward penalty for Alex infront of the posts to take the score to 24-6. Akeal had a couple of promising breaks coming infield from the wing. Moments later, Eccles kicked a penalty to the corner for a line out catch and drive. The forwards formed a good maul, Harry P was stopped short of the line, but Joe M capped off a fine captain's performance with a pick up and charge for the line, to score the 4th try of the game, converted by Alex. 31-6.
The game had been a physical contest and in the later stages there were a couple of flare ups between the players, one of which resulted in a yellow card for the Aldwinians' 6. Harry P was to make an excellent break from deep to launch a lighting counter attack which unfortunately lacked the support it needed to lead to another score. The game concluded without further incident. Decisive finishing, determined defence and cool headed discipline sees the Eccles Senior Colts progress to the semi final of the county competition in which they were finalists in 2019.
On progressing through the knockout phases top team tape technician Dr Dave commented his D3 supplies would need replenishing as he hurried under the tunnel for much needed post match hydration.
