Sat 21 Oct 2023
Although a storm had been predicted, it failed to show in Salford where the sun shone down on the Gorton Street turf for a Counties 1 top of the table fixture between Widnes (1st) and Eccles (2nd). The visitors arrived in good form unbeaten in six games. Eccles were missing five players from last week’s victory at Aspull and fielded a team featuring a number of homegrown former colts.
Eccles kicked off and immediatley took the game to Widnes. The flowing rugby in Widnes territory was disrupted by a high tackle but Eccles were undeterred and kicked the penalty to touch where a quick ball off the top of the line out inside the 22 sent fullback Parkinson flying through the defensive gap to score the opening try, converted by Speakman. 04’ 7-0.
In the 13th minute, a high tackle on Parkinson halted another Eccles attack inside the Widnes half. This was the third such penalty from the visitors and the referee issued a yellow card to the Widnes 13. With quarter of an hour played the game had yet to leave the Widnes half. However, despite Eccles enjoying all the early attacking, carelessness with the ball prevented a second score. At 18' Eccles gave a penalty away on the Widnes 22 offering the visitors the opportunity to relieve the pressure, kicking upfield to touch on the left. With quick passing across the field Widnes scored with their first attack, number 12 in the corner, somewhat against the run of play. 19’ 7-5.
Eccles responded to this set back and 4 minutes later Matty Houghton carried the ball into the 22, the defender did not roll away and Speakman kicked the penalty to increase the home advantage. 23’ 10-5. Eccles continued to play thier expansive rugby inside Widnes territory with Wright delivering quick ball and Candland and Parkinson cutting through the Widnes lines. Houghton was unfortunate not to score from a line out in the 22 and Eccles settled for another Penalty, kicked by Speakman. 26’ 13-5.
Widnes looked to react and were shaping up to mount a promising attack when Eccles defensive pressure forced an error, the ball was dropped loose and Parkinson kicked it free up field. Winger Balogun was quick to hack the ball further forward and went on to beat the Widnes 13 in the chase to score the try, converted by Speakman. 31’ 20-5
With the clock ticking down to the break the visitors needed a response and from a ruck outside the 22, the Widnes 2 strolled through a huge gap in the Eccles defence to dot the ball down under the posts to reduce the deficit as the last play of the half. 40’ 20-12.
HT 20-12
Eccles made changes at the interval with Higginbottom coming on for Manzanares but the second half started as poorly as the first half had finished for the hosts who, through a lack of urgency at the breakdown gave away a penalty in midfield in the opening minutes. This was kicked to the corner for a line out and once again some sleepy defending gave the Widnes 1 a perfect opportunity to crash over to score under the posts. 43’ 20-19.
With this lapse in focus Eccles unexpectedly found themselves in a 1-point game and set about piling on the attacking pressure. Widnes received a third yellow for another high tackle at 53’ and were subsequently pinned inside their 22 by Eccles, who had two good opportunities to collect points with kickable penalties but spurned them in favour of line outs in the corner that were ably defended by a determined Widnes defence who, after absorbing this sustained pressure, successfully moved play upfield.
On 70’ the visitors received a fourth yellow card for a late tackle on Fly Half Speakman inside the Widnes 22. Once again Eccles opted to kick to touch believing it would lead to a try but failed to turn their pressure in to points. Shortly after, a clearing kick upfield from Widnes was not dealt with by Eccles and from the resulting choas the visitors were ultimatley presented with a penalty, which the number 10 calmly kicked to give Widnes the lead for the first time in the game with 3 minutes to play. 77’ 20-22.
Eccles tried everything they could in the final minutes but Widnes, who gave a dogged performance in the second half and who spent half the game with 14 players on the pitch, held on to claim the victory, leaving Eccles regretting their decisions not to kick at goal when the game was in the balance.
FT 20-22
