Sat 4 Feb 2023, 14:15
With all the media pre-match hype and gibes focussed on Wigan's recruitment of former International Rugby League Professionals Sean O’Loughlin and Thomas Leuluai, the young homegrown Eccles team were keen to do their talking on the pitch. The game was certainly important to both clubs, with Wigan fighting relegation and league leaders Eccles fighting for promotion, and a large crowd of enthusiastic home supporters had gathered at Douglas Valley to see the cross code contributions of the international stars.
Eccles secured possession following the kick off but failed to clear their lines when the opportunities to do so presented themselves, causing themselves all sorts of problems inside their own 22. Wigan were encouraged by the lack of composure in the opening 5 minutes but were unable to take advantage and Eccles eventually moved the game upfield.
A quick ball off the top of an Eccles line out on the left saw the play dispatched across the pitch by Alex Speakman to James Wright who kicked deep through the advancing defence. The Wigan fullback was put under immediate pressure by the chasing pack who turned over possession and swift interpassing between backs put Gav into space on the right. The winger still had plenty still to do but he weaved through the tacklers to put Eccles on the board. | 09’ 0-7 | TRY ECCLES (Gavin Ackers Johnson)
Following the restart, Wigan made a good break down their left flank and appeared to have worked a 3 v 1 overlap but Eccles winger Tim Balogun made a terrific tackle to save a certain score and Eccles were able to recover the ball and play out from their 22. Eccles were looking to play quickly at every opportunity and the three times ten axis of Speakman, Candland, Wright was linking well with the forwards, and within a few minutes, the attack shifted rapidly back to the wing where Tim finished with a fine score in corner despite some robust tackling. | 16’ 0-12 | TRY ECCLES (Tim Balogun)
Wigan looked to respond and attempted to break up their right wing. The attacker was judged to be pushed unfairly into touch and the resulting penalty was kicked to corner. Eccles defended the line out intelligently and regained possession with a knock on inside the 22. However, following a scrum penalty they loose the ball and Wigan swiftly pass across the pitch to score in left corner. | 23’ 7-12 | TRY WIGAN.
Eccles continued to enjoy more of the ball and more of the attacking with a sustained period of play in inside the Wigan 22. On 29’ Eccles lost the ball at a breakdown just 15m out from the goal line and Wigan are able to escape with a deep kick to the halfway line. On 32’ an exciting break up the middle, engineered by TB coming infield form his wing, was well supported by Flanker Reece Walker who was seemingly everywhere and involved in everything. JW kicked over the defence to the in goal and the coverage fullback was just able to get to the loose ball before Gav.
The goal line drop out allowed Eccles to continue their occupation of the Wigan 22, attacking, as they had been for the majority of the first half and with a minute of play remaining before the interval a penalty was awarded to the right of the posts 1m or so from the goal line. Eccles declined the opportunity for the kickable points and instead opted to tap and go. Keiron Reed charged in and was held up on the line and the ball ripped from his grasp. This was to be the last action of first half, with Eccles on top, but perhaps considering the missed opportunities to increase their advantage.
HT 7-12
Wigan kicked off and Max Mulligan caught the ball cleanly and took it forward into contact. A quick tempo was re-established and Eccles looked to break swiftly through TB who was released up the blind side, speeding away into the opposition half on his own. Possession was lost in the breakdown through arriving support being unable to keep pace with the winger and Wigan looked to counter attack without hesitation.
With the second half only just underway, Eccles recovered the ball inside their own 22 and with quick thinking and passing Gav was released on his wing, bursting through the lines on mazy run, tearing Wigan wide open with a solo effort that had the Eccles faithful roaring their support. | 43’ 7-19 | TRY ECCLES (Gavin Ackers Johnson).
Eccles were now playing with good fluidity and attacking with confidence but a ball spilled in contact just outside the Wigan 22 resulted in a penalty which was kicked to touch. This led to a Wigan scrum centre field just inside the Eccles half and from here the former Wigan Warriors pro Leuluai, playing at outside centre, received the ball 40m out and skilfully stepped inside fullback Will Parkinson and ran free to score to the left of the posts. | 50’ 14-19 | TRY WIGAN.
Eccles confidence was clearly dented by the Leuluai try. Having been in a control of the match, suddenly it was the hosts who appeared to be in the ascendancy and boosted with belief. Shortly after the restart a penalty awarded at a ruck was kicked to the corner for a 10m line out and a well worked move saw an unstoppable Wigan Forward steam in from close range to score. | 56’ 21-19 | TRY WIGAN.
Within a few minutes, the game had turned and Wigan were ahead to the delight of the home supporters. The enthusiasm soon boiled over however, with the Wigan loosehead prop shown a yellow card for dumping the Eccles back row on his head after the ball was played. Eccles kicked deep to touch inside the Wigan 22 and the game remained here for 10 minutes with a sequence of penalties which were not converted into points. On 65’ an Eccles a scrum 15m out to the left of the posts looked to be a promising position from which to score and Rayden, replacing Harry Candland who had an outstanding game at centre, took a missile line towards glory but hit the solid defensive wall, the ball was spilled and from the resulting scrum Wigan kicked to finally release the pressure.
With 8 minutes remaining Wigan were awarded a penalty in the centre of the posts which was kicked to extend their lead. | 72’ 24-19 | PENALTY WIGAN
Eccles did not drop their heads and restarted the game with a terrific determined spirit to attack, probing for gaps in the Wigan defence. With fantastic passing, coast to coast, Tim Balogun, shows belief and wheels with the narrowest of opportunities up the right wing to race in a score to the right of the posts. | 76’ 24-24 | TRY ECCLES.
Alex Speakman stepped up and cooly slotted home the conversation to regain the lead with 3 minutes remaining. Cue scenes. Eccles secured the ball from the restart and demonstrating good composure tick down the clock and eventually kick to touch to end the match. Not the result that the home supporters had gathered to see but a great game played in a great atmosphere.
FT 24-26.
HIGHLIGHTS
09’ 0-7 TRY ECCLES (Gavin Ackers Johnson), Converted (Alex Speakman)
16’ 0-12 TRY ECCLES (Tim Balogun)
HT 7-12
43’ 7-19 TRY ECCLES (Gavin Ackers Johnson) Converted (Alex Speakman)
76’ 24-26 TRY ECCLES (Tim Balogun), Converted (Alex Speakman)
