Sat 13 Sep 2025
The 1XV continued their winning start to the season on Saturday in a close contest at Aspull, with Eccles overcoming a first half where they failed to take advantage and a second half peppered with penalties to come from behind and claim the bonus-point win.
Eccles ran out in their changed green shirts at Woodshed Park, with Rhys Connor replacing James Cunningham in the front row being the only change from the starting line up last week. Simpson picked up an injury in the opening minutes and was replaced by Russell with Higginbottom moving to prop. Eccles gave away two needless penalties in quick succession for offside, inviting Aspull out of their own half and up the pitch to a position where the Aspull #10 could kick the first points of the match, establishing a pattern of play that would continue for the match.
04’ 3-0 PENALTY ASPULL
For the next 10 minutes Eccles sustained their attack, keeping possession inside the Aspull 22. Three penalties were awarded against Aspull with Eccles declining these opportunities to equal the score with kickable points in favour of scrums, which failed to deliver the desired outcome. The game was stopped to deal with an injury to prop Burdon and the match official had a lengthy conversation with the Aspull Captain. Play restarted with another Eccles scrum and as the visitors attacked the corner a high tackle resulted in the first card on what was to become a very busy afternoon for the referee’s pocket.
14’ YELLOW ASPULL.
14-man Aspull continued to defended with determination. Eccles were unable to turn their pressure into points and once again, gave away needless penalties to invite Aspull up the field into Eccles territory, where more penalties and more scrums lead to a good passing move from Aspull and a score in the corner to increase their lead, converted by the #10.
22’ 10-0 TRY ASPULL. CONV
A poor restart kick from Fortune resulted in another penalty and stoppage in play. Eccles managed to regain possession and wrestle their way into opposition territory where a high tackle from the Aspull #18 was punished by a second card for the hosts.
26’ YELLOW ASPULL.
As Eccles continued their attack inside the 22 the Aspull captain (#10) attempted to intercept a pass and was sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-on.
28’ YELLOW ASPULL.
Following the restart, another offence by Aspull inside their 22 resulted in a long conversation between referee and stand-in captain and another scrum for Eccles in the corner. Driving the opposition backwards, Connor Longford siezed his opportunity, picking up the ball at the back and charging through the defence to put Eccles on the scoreboard. Conversion missed.
31’ 10-5 TRY ECCLES (Longford)
The game restarted and Eccles continued to attack, but failed to take advantage of their possession and position with poor passing contributing to the general chaos and disorder. With Aspull players leaving and re-entering the game with such regularly it was not possible for this reporter to keep track of all the events but a fourth card was shown to Aspull (#4) and as the game approached the interval, another 10m scrum resulted in a well executed push over try for the Eccles forwards, with Nick Spooner securing the try between the posts and Will Parkinson slotting the conversation to put Eccles ahead.
35’ YELLOW ASPULL.
37’ 10-12 TRY ECCLES (Spooner) CONV (W Parkinson)
Continuing the now well established theme, another poor restart kick from Eccles, lead to more sloppy passing and poor decisions to gift another penalty to the Aspull #10 who, having returned to the feild, did not miss the chance to kick Aspull back into the lead, bringing a disrupted first half to a concussion.
39’ 13-12 PENALTY ASPULL
HT 13-12
Despite their discipline issues, Aspull's dogged defence and accurate kicking had brought them success. To take control of the game Eccles needed to improve their own discipline and distribution to get the ball into space. Replacements were introduced, Long for Cullen and Oates for Matt Parkinson and in the opening minutes of the second half Long and Fortune combined to stretch play across the back field. A deft offload from Candland released Ackers-Johnson to break free on the right wing inside his own half, evading the tackles out wide and swerving inside the Aspull fullback, to race in and score a wonderful try between the posts to put Eccles ahead.
42’ 13-19 TRY ECCLES (Ackers-Johnson) CONV (W Parkinson)
Eccles attempted to drive home their advantage, keeping play inside the Aspull 22 with good scrummaging but ultimately giving the home team an easy exit with another unnecessary offside penalty. The trusty boot of the Aspull #10 moved the game back to the midfield where play remained for the next 10 minutes as both teams searched for a breakthrough, which eventually came in the form of indiscipline from Eccles and another successful penalty kicked by Aspull.
54’ YELLOW ECCLES (Coop)
55’ 16-19 PENALTY ASPULL
More disbelief was in store when, on catching a deep kick inside his 22, a catastrophic error from Oates saw him pass the ball to the Aspull #10 who trotted in unopposed to score behind the posts. Eccles managed to compound this set back with another poor restart, leading to yet another penalty opportunity for the Aspull #10 to extend their lead.
60’ 23-19 TRY ASPULL. CONV.
62’ 26-19 PENALTY ASPULL
Eccles, who were creating many of their own problems, were struggling to achieve any kind of fluidity in their play but persevered in their efforts and the next 10 minutes produced their best rugby of the game. Hard graft from the forwards put the visitors inside the Aspull 22 where moment of marvellous skill and tenacity saw the crafty captain weave and twist his way through the defence to claim a terrific try to the side of the posts; the elation of this score somewhat deflated by the straightforward conversation which hit the post!
66’ 26-24 TRY ECCLES (Fortune)
Candland continued to put Eccles on the front foot with some determined, dynamic line breaks through the middle, setting a platform for an incisive attack that stretched the Aspull defence across the pitch and was finished off, inevitably and calmly, with a Candland pass to Ackers-Johnson who scored the fifth Eccles try in the corner, to the delight of the away support.
70’ 26-29 TRY ECCLES (Ackers-Johnson)
The drama was not complete and in the final minutes Eccles had to defend their goal line like lions. Aspull were awarded two kickable penalties inside the 22 but declined both these opportunities in favour of line outs in the corner, which the Eccles pack soaked up. With Aspull unable to breach the Eccles goal line the fracious and unpredictable game was brought to a conclusion.
Eccles showed good character to fight back when events turned against them and will be delighted with their determined defensive at the death to secure a 5-try bonus point win away from home, but will be unhappy with their discipline (16 penalties against them in this match, directly contributing 12-points to the opposition score). A two week break now for the Eccles 1XV. Next fixture will be against Wigan, at Gorton Street, 4th October.
FT 26-29
Eccles Team: Sam Simpson, Rhys Connor, Jack Burdon, Cameron Higginbottam, Scott Pears, Martin Coop, Nick Spooner, Connor Longford; Tim Cullen, Chris Fortune; Gavin Ackers Johnson, Harry Candland, Jason Dodd, Matthew Parkinson, William Parkinson. Replacements Rhys Connor, Harvey Russell, Cameron Oates.
