Sat 22 Apr 2023
The experienced 3XV had an injection of youth yesterday afternoon at Riversdale, on the banks of the Mersey, when they overcame the Merseyside Police in a tense Semi Final contest, securing the late points to win 12-20 and put themselves in the NOWIRUL Plate final.
Four colts stepped up to make their senior debuts (Back Row U17 James Edwards, Fullback U17 Lucas Reeveley, Centre U18 Charlie Cox, and Scrum Half U18 Matt Reed) with Centre / No. 8 U17 Matthew Gardiner already a ‘veteran’ in his second senior game, all making significant contributions to the game and the final result.
Eccles had to soak up some early pressure from the burly Police pack who pounded away but were unable to breach the Eccles defence. Handling errors by both teams was to be a regular feature of the match and the Eccles scrum had plenty of work in the opening 10 minutes, with scrum half Tom Bates distributing quickly and accurately. An Eccles break from midfield set up a promising attack on the right flank and good passing and support running back across the field to the left resulted in the opening try for no. 8 Tom Mayo to the left of the posts, converted by Chris Lewindon. 13' 0-7.
Eccles enjoyed the better share of possession for the next 20 minutes and the game was played in the main in the opposition half, but Eccles were unable to create any clear opportunities to extend the lead. As the game approached the interval the Merseyside Police used their physicality to mount a sustained attack inside the 22. Some half hearted tackling from Eccles allowed the opposition no. 8 to charge straight through the middle towards the posts, the ball appeared to be dropped before it was grounded under pressure of a tackle from Fullback Reevely but the referee awarded the try and the hosts has a straightforward conversion to take the lead. 35’ 7-7.
Straight from the restart Eccles were put under pressure. A penalty awarded for a high tackle in midfield resulted in a kick to the corner and a line out 10 m out for the Merseyside Police. Eccles did thier best to arrest the driving maul but the opposition pack flopped over the line to score, sparking big vocal celebrations. 38’ 12-7
Eccles ended the half attacking inside the Police 22, but the match official brought the action to a conclusion with the hosts ahead. HT 12-7
The second half began with Eccles invigorated, replacements deployed, and playing their strengths. The first 10 minutes was an even blanced physical contest but as the half progressed it was Eccles who gained the upper hand as the eagerness of youth looked to increase the pace of the game as the hosts tired.
Blindside James Edwards (blue scrum cap), enjoying a great performance, turned over possession inside the Eccles 22 on 55'. Matt Gardiner at centre was released, breaking through the middle, weaving his way through the broken field, to make big yards up the pitch where he is eventally tackled on the halfway line. Scrum half Tom Bates quickly gathered the ball and chipped it over the defence to create bouncing chaos as himself and Charlie Cox chased it down. Tom gathered possession just outside the 22 and evaded the fullback to run in and score to left of the posts. Conversion missed. All square. 56’ 12-12.
Eccles were penalised with 2 yellow cards to forwards Duncan Coop and Steve Harrision, but despite this disadvantage successfully kept pressure on the Police, keeping play inside the opposition territory for long periods with enthusistic tackling from all, and in particular the younger lads. Nick Hagemen was very effective at driving the attack and on 60' a superb break up the left wing almost resulted in a score but the offload could not be gathered by the supporting Gardiner. The pink scrum cap appeared to be everwhere.
On 70’, Matt Reed, now involved at scrum half, spied an opportunity to pick and go from a ruck on the left wing and shot up the blindside, racing into the in-goal and scootering around to dot down behind the sticks. The Referee signaled his award of a try, and then changed his decision, it appeared on the advice of the Merseyside Police Touch Judge. The controvacy continued a few minutes later with an Eccles try from Nic Hagman, in the same corner, also denied.
Eccles persevered and the winning Try eventually came 5 minutes later when Eccles were awarded a penalty 10m out from the Mersey Police goal line. A quick tap from Matt Reed caught the hosts napping and Mathew Gardiner powered in to score from short range. 75’ 12-17.
A 30m Eccles penalty from Matt Reed, sweetly struck between the sticks, secured the victory. 79' 12-20.
It was surprise, to the Eccles supporters at least, that there were still 10 minutes still to be played. However, these passed without change to the score, and some fine defensive tackling from Nic Hagemen and Lucas Reevely preventing a break from the opposition speedy winger, leading to a nail biting finish.
FT 12-20
A speedy and full recovery is wished to Charlie Cox (rambo) who sustained an elbow injury and departed to A&E.
Eccles 3XV will now face Port Sunlight 2XV in the NOWIRUL Plate Final, next Saturday 29 April.
