Sat 25 Jan 2025
Eccles lose grip on first half lead.
On a glorious, winter afternoon at Moss Farm, Eccles fielded a much changed team, recalling homegrown Wright, Speakman, Cunningham, Mountcastle and Ayanlaja-Lowo to the starting line up, joined by Manzanares returning from injury, in an attempt to claim a precious away win in a crucial contest at the bottom of the table, with both teams needing to turn around their form to secure level 6 status next season.
Eccles kicked off into a low winter sun. Northwich, bolstered with array of overseas recruits, carried possession back to the halfway line where the visitors pinned the hosts for the opening exchanges, as the teams pounded away testing each other’s resolve. Speakman was first to display some attacking invention, unlocking the Northwich defence to release Bates on the right wing, who hesitated to exploit the space he had inside the 22, when a little more belief would have paid dividends. Eccles continued to apply pressure, and play was restrained to the middle of the pitch with Wright bringing a noticeable difference in vocal communication at stand off. The teams traded line-outs without much progress in either direction until Eccles were slow to the ruck in support of a Mountcastle carry and Northwich were awarded the opportunity to open the scoring with a penalty.
06’ 3-0 NORTHWICH PENALTY.
Following the restart, Eccles continued with at high work rate and soon forced an error earning a scrum near the halfway line where Houghton had his first opportunity to show his ability at eight, with an effective break moving play into Northwich territory. Eccles retained good possession of the ball through several phases but were unable to penetrate the Northwich defence through the middle and found more success on the left flank with Fortune making a promising break into the 22 before he was forced into touch. Two successive line-outs on the right for Eccles offered good opportunities to strike, with accurate throwing from Cox and a Ayanlaja-Lowo charge forestalled by strong tackling from the hosts. The sustained pressure eventually paid off and Eccles took the points on offer from the kicking tee to level the score.
19’ 3-3 ECCLES PENALTY (Speakman).
The momentum of the game was now with Eccles and from the restart, the back line counter attacked from deep, with Mercer cutting through the field on the left flank, evading the Northwich tackles and bursting into the 22 to dot down between the posts to put Eccles ahead.
21’ 3-10 ECCLES TRY (Mercer) CONV (Speakman).
Northwich responded and soon had an attacking scrum 5m from the Eccles line in the left corner. The Eccles defence was committed and held out against mutiple charges until the ball was sprayed across the pitch out to the right where the winger in space touched down in the corner; converted with an excellent kick to equal the score.
29’ 10-10 NORTHWICH TRY.
The game remained a highly competitive contest for the remainder of the first half with both teams playing with determiation and conviction. Fortune’s craftiness up the left wing and a Northwich counter-attack on the same flank with Houghton catching the blindside breakaway being the highlight events. With 6 minutes to the interval Eccles turned defence into attack with Speakman’s kicking once again decisive in moving play into Northwich territory, where a series of scrums and line outs kept the action inside the 22 and some robust tackling prevented Eccles from breaking through. At the very end of the half, Eccles were rewarded with a penalty and Speakman’s boot slotted the ball through the sticks to nudge them ahead.
40’ 10-13 ECCLES PENALTY (Speakman).
HT 10-13
Where the first half had been evenly balanced, the second half scoring was dominated by the home team, who adopted a change of tactics, regularly kicking deep, encouraging Eccles to run the ball out and applying pressure high up the field to force errors inside Eccles territory. As the tension rose, noise levels on and off the pitch increased. Northwich were the first to falter with 5 minutes played when their fullback was sent to the bin, an advantage Eccles failed to take advantage of.
45’ NORTHWICH YELLOW.
Eccles kicked into the Northwich 22 for a line-out which was won with a bold throw to the back but ultimately knocked-on, resulting in a scum to the hosts. Undeterred, Eccles regained possession at the breakdown and, with a penalty awarded, decided against the kickable points to extend their lead in favour of the ambitious quick tap against an organised defence. Turning Point. Ayanlaja-Lowo fearlessly carried the ball directly to the posts but was held up by Northwich who, boosted by their heroics, used effective kicking to move the game into the Eccles half where the high balls caused a certain amount of chaos in the Eccles back line. Northwich gathered the goal line drop out and returned the ball with interest building up the pressure, resulting in a penalty and a yellow card for Eccles. Northwich didn’t hesitate to use the quick tap and crossed the line to score behind the posts, for a routine conversation.
55’ ECCLES YELLOW (Mountcastle).
56’ 17-13 NORTHWICH TRY. CONV.
Eccles were deflated by this set back and failed to keep the ball or keep play inside the opposition half following the restart. Northwich had their tails up and were playing good rugby, taking full advantage of the extra man to stretch Eccles across the pitch and within a few minutes scored a third try to extend their lead, to the delight and relief of their supporters.
62’ 22-13 NORTHWICH TRY.
At 65 minutes Mountcastle rejoined the game, Simpson replaced Cunningham and Murphy replaced Wright. Eccles attempted to respond but Northwich were quick to smother any sparks of attack and the game was anchored to the halfway line for long periods, with the only glimmers of a break for Eccles coming from a kick and chase from Bates and a strong carry upfield from Aitken, both lacking the close , support needed for success. With the match in extra time a penalty was awarded to Northwich who kicked to the corner for an attacking line-out that would ultimately deliver them a driving maul fourth try.
82’ 27-13 NORTHWICH TRY.
FT 27-13
Northwich finished the stronger team in a physical but clean game and their bonus point win moves them off the bottom of the table and above Eccles, who faded in the second half after a promising first half performance, and must now find the resolve and belief to battle their way out of relegation. Next Saturday, Vale of Lune at Home.
Eccles: 1 James Cunningham #, 2 Fin Cox # (C), 3 James Aitken, 4 Ross Hulbert, 5 Joe Mountcastle #, 6 Damola Ayanlaja-Lowo #, 7 Nick Spooner #, 8 Matty Houghton #, 9 Llew Jones, 10 James Wright #, 11 Tom Bates #, 12 Harry Candland # (VC), 13 Marcus Mercer, 14 Chris Fortune, 15 Alex Speakman #. Replacements: 16 Sam Simpson #, 17 Javi Manzanares, 18 Harry Murphy. #Homegrown at Eccles.
