Sat 14 Oct 2023
In heavy rain, on a heavy pitch, Eccles began the match brightly and in the opening minute Wright, playing at scrum half, reacted quickly to the opportunity of a penalty inside Eccles territory and passed to Simpson at stand off who, fending off the Aspull number 8, burst through the Aspull defensive line and there was no catching him as he powered up the field, into the 22 to score between the posts.Converted. 02’ 7-0.
Eccles continued their high work rate following the restart and through good movement and handling were soon building a platform for another attack. Spooner, led the charge with a strong and direct drive towards the Aspull posts, tackled 10m from the goal line, the ball was quickly recycled out to the left where his second row partner Manzanares was waiting to drive over and score in the corner. 06’ 12-0.
In the pouring rain Aspull responded, forcing errors in Eccles territory which lead to a scrum and a try in scored in the left corner by the scrum half, which was converted. 13’ 7-12.
Aspull were roused by their recovery and the next few minutes were painful viewing for Eccles supporters as Campbell, Thornton and Simpson all left the field with injuries. With just 18 minutes played Eccles had deployed all their replacements and, as the rain got heavier, had to deal with a period of disruption. With almost 30 minutes played, Eccles moved the game once again into Aspull territory with some intelligent play. A passage of good rugby resulted in an Eccles scrum just outside the Aspull 22 on the left. Matt Houghton, a 17 year old colt growing in confidence in the number 8 shirt, broke from the back and made good yards before popping the ball up to Wright off the ground as he was tackled. The ball was moved swiftly by Speakman (replacing Simpson at Fly Half) through the hands of Candland and Read to Ackers Johnson on the right wing, who used his skill and power to evade the defenders and score in the corner to extend the Eccles lead. 28’ 7-17.
Eccles continued to enjoy good possession for the remainder of the half. Just before the break an Eccles line out on the left inside the 22 offered a promising attacking opportunity. The ball was caught cleanly but the driving maul collapsed and play moved quickly infield where Read drilled a hard line into contact in front of the sticks; the Aspull defender received a yellow card for his actions at the breakdown and Speakman dispatched the penalty. 37’ 7-20.
HT 7-20
Eccles had adapted well to the disruption of injuries, rain and pitch conditions and, playing good rugby, had put themselves in command at the interval. However, the break in play appeared to do them no favours. The hosts started the second half reinvigorated and with 5 minutes played some careless play from Eccles gave Aspull a scrum inside the 22 from where the number 8 broke from the back and aided by some indecision in the Eccles backline Aspull scored a well worked a try in the corner. 45’ 12-20.
Within a few minutes this was followed with some more careless handling from Eccles where the ball spilled free at a ruck and Aspull were quick to seize upon the gifted opportunity to reduce the deficit further, scoring a try between the posts for the easy extras. 52’ 19-20.
Recognising they had allowed their grasp of the game to slip, Eccles were galvanised into action and for the next 15 minutes they maintained good composure and possession inside the Aspull 22, building sustained pressure, phase after phase, as the rain continued to fall. A series of penalties and an Aspull Yellow Card for a high tackle followed . Eccles were playing their best rugby of the half and as the defensive line advanced up on Speakman he chipped over the top and, despite being pulled back, was still able to out pace the winger to ground the tumbling ball between the sticks. Converted. 69’ 19-27.
Aspull responded and pulled a try back, scored by the winger in the corner, setting up an exciring finish to the match 73’ 24-27. Eccles kicked to restart the game and kept play inside the Aspull half. With 4 minutes remaining, some desperate defending resulted in a penalty, 10m from the half way line and Speakman’s trusty boot slotted the ball between the posts with a well struck kick to extend the Eccles lead. 76’ 24-30.
With a minute on the clock Aspull were attacking inside the Eccles 22 when the referee stopped play for an infringement. This sparked a flare up between the teams with multiple players getting involved in the affray which left Eccles prop Campell unconscious on the floor. The match official restored order and awarded two red cards, one to each team, and following a conversation with the captains he signalled the end of the match.
After the players had left the pitch Campbell was eventually revived by the physios and, suffering from concussion, he was taken to A&E. Man of the Match was #homegrown Matthew Houghton, number 8, who was influential in all aspects of the game and has seized his opportunity to claim a regular shirt in the Eccles back row since moving up from the colts this season.
FT 24-30
