Sat 26 Oct 2024
Problems pile up for Eccles.
Powder House Lane was bathed in Autumn sunshine for the return of Eccles, who last made the trip to Lancaster in January 2017. It’s been a long road back to level 6 for Eccles with back to back relegations followed by the nadir of Covid and the ascension of back to back promotions. The campaign to remain in the R2NW division suffered a significant set back before the season began with the loss of the captain, vice captain, hooker, fly-half and scrum-half in the first round of the Lancashire Cup to serious injuries. The casualties have continued to pile up in each fixture since then, leaving Eccles struggling to find winning form with a weekly changing line up. The teams began the day separated by 5 points and though Vale took the field as the favourites, Eccles had a realistic possibility of progress up the table if they seized the opportunity.
Vale took control of the game for the opening phases and enjoyed the early possession until a long pass out to their left wing was anticipated and intercepted by Ackers-Johnson who burned away with the ball, some 70 meters or so from his 22 to the goal line, dotting down behind the posts to put the visitors ahead. 6’ ECCLES TRY (Ackers-Johnson) CONV (Holland) 0-7.
Vale kicked deep at the restart putting Eccles under pressure. The Eccles defence worked hard to soak up the sustained punishment but did themselves no favours when, having twice earned a penalty inside their territory, they failed to find touch with their kick inviting Vale to launch the next attack. At 14’ Eccles lock Hulbert limped off for treatment, Vale won the next line out and as they attempted to move possession across the field to the left, Ackers-Johnson made an attempt to intercept the ball in front of the posts, earning him 10 minutes on the bench and providing Vale with easy points. 15’ ECCLES YELLOW (Ackers-Johnson). 15’ VALE PENALTY (Ramwell) 3-7.
Frustrations followed for both teams with decisions against them in the midfield contest. Vale continued to have possession and Eccles continued to defend resolutely, with the hosts limited to a second penalty goal during their numerical advantage, the ball bouncing in off the post. 19’ VALE PENALTY (Ramwell) 6-7.
Injuries to the Eccles front row (Golding dislocated shoulder, Thomas knee, Burdon head split) lead to uncontested scrums for the remainder of the match. Eccles reshuffled their pack with replacements and Hulbert was able to limp back on and continue. Despite these handicaps Eccles persisted in their work and on 35’ were quick to mount a counter attack through a break out on the right wing. This endeavour was ultimately rewarded with a penalty inside the Vale 22, successfully kicked by Holland to extend the Eccles lead. 38’ ECCLES PENALTY (Holland) 6-10.
Vale looked to respond immediately to this set back, however Parkinson gathered the ball at the restart, releasing Fortune who broke clean through the Vale line. and offloaded to Ackers-Johnson. The promising Eccles attack was abruptly halted near the halfway line with a high tackle, judged to be dangerous by the referee, resulting in a straight dismissal for Vale, to the dismay of the home support. 39’ VALE RED (Briggs).
HT 6-10
Vale were a man down for the remainder of the match but did not show it, as their pack intensified their work rate. Eccles, who had spent the majority of the first half defending, failed to take advantage and appeared to fade in energy as the second half wore on. With 10 minutes of the second half played, the benefit of a big second row tank was made apparent to the visitors. From five yards out, the Vale of Lune lock burst through the tackles from a ruck to score between the sticks and the hosts took the lead. 50’ VALE TRY (Fellows) CONV (Ramwell) 13-10.
Eccles responded but lost their composure whilst attacking. Distracted by off the ball confrontations Eccles allowed the Vale backs to seize the initiative and counter attack, breaking up the wing, taking the momentum to the other end of the field and setting up the opportunity for a second score for the second row in the corner. 58’ VALE TRY (Fellows) CONV (Ramwell) 20-10.
At the restart, Eccles winger Parkinson chased the high ball and collided with the Vale second row, in the air as the players jumped to claim possession. Parkinson left the field on a stretcher with a dislocated ankle to join Golding at Royal Lancaster A&E. Eccles were out of options and reorganised their resources. A determined defensive set inside their 22 forced an error from Vale and centre Fortune was quick to take the opportunity to break up field, releasing the ball to Ackers-Johnson outside him, who sped up the right wing outpacing the defenders and swept in to score behind the uprights. 60’ ECCLES TRY (Ackers-Johnson), CONV (Holland) 20-17.
Momentum was now with Eccles. Ayanlaja-Lowo caught the ball at the restart and charged forward, making good ground and setting up a promising attack with his debut back row partner Salacha who carried possession up to the Vale 22. The ball was temporarily lost but regained by Eccles on the left flank where it was offloaded inside to scrum-half Jones who raced through the gap to score behind the sticks. The opportunity to extend the lead with a straightforward conversation was spurned by Holland who hit the post with his kick. 69’ ECCLES TRY (Jones) 20-22.
Vale were rattled. Eccles were pushing the pace but as a consequence the errors were increasing. As the clock ticked into the last 10 minutes, a missed penalty kick for Vale brought a groan from the anxious home support. A penalty for Eccles offered the opportunity for composure with a kick to touch but the decision to play quickly out from the back was to have consequences. A penalty for Vale minutes later was kicked to the corner for a line out and once again the Vale second row did the damage scoring his third try of the afternoon, to the delight of the home support. 75’ VALE TRY (Fellows) CONV (Ramwell) 27-22.
FT 27-22
Three tries each. 4 points and a red card for Vale. A bonus point loss for Eccles but of greater consequence will be the loss of 3 more players to injury. The next 1XV game is at home against Sandbach on the 9th of November. Kick off 2.15pm.
Eccles Team: Keiron Reed, Kristian Golding, Jack Burdon (C), Nick Spooner, Ross Hulbert, Damola Ayanlaja-Lowo, Remi Salacha, Henry Booth; Llew Jones, Danny Holland; Gavin Akers-Johnson, Chris Fortune, Byron Read, Will Parkinson, Harry Murphy. Replacements: Chris Thomas, Louis Evans, Sam Long.
