Sat 4 Oct 2025, 15:00
Since the last meeting at Gorton Street, in September 2022 (Eccles 26-19 Wigan, Counties 2) both clubs had experienced relegation and back to back promotions, and these changing fortunes for each team provided an interesting backdrop for Saturday’s contest as Eccles, still adjusting to the injuries, departures and arrivals since last season, lined up with Mercer at fullback and Long at scrum-half as the notable changes to the starting XV at Aspull.
On a showery and blustery afternoon the game got underway in sunshine, with the wind at Eccles backs. The hosts looked to take authority of the game early on, keeping play in side Wigan territory and their urgent pressing lead to the opening score when the ball was spilled at breakdown and winger Gavin Ackers-Johnson reacted quickly to gather possession and speed away from the defence to touch down.
06’ 7-0 TRY ECCLES (Gavin Ackers-Johnson) CONV. (Will Parkinson).
Wigan looked to respond to this set back and worked hard to put Eccles under pressure at the restart. From a line out in the Eccles 22 a risky long pass inside from Long lead to a knock on and scrum in the middle of the pitch. The Eccles pack regained the ball in the set piece, but hesitant play put Fly-Half Fortune in a corner and his attempted exit kick, 10m from the goal line, was charged down by two Wigan players and the loose ball picked up and scored to reduce the deficit.
11’ 7-5 TRY WIGAN
The fight back from Wigan was brief. Eccles made a determined response from the restart and with the pack hungry for work possession was soon regained. Will Parkinson showed tenacity and strength with his ball carrying on the left wing and his personal persistence paid off when he wrestled past the defender to score in corner, adding to his tally with a sweetly struck kick from out wide to collect the extras and put Eccles back in charge.
13’ 14-5 TRY ECCLES (Will Parkinson) CONV (Will Parkinson)
Eccles were now playing with confidence, with Higginbottom, Pears, Cunningham, Spooner and Longford all carrying hard and Mercer using his purposeful pace to probe for gaps in the Wigan defensive line. The wet conditions influenced handling for both teams but Eccles were able to dominate the scrums, regularly driving Wigan backwards, and the game remained for inside the visitors half for 10 minutes until Eccles eventually broke through the centre with the ball kicked through into the in-goal with Dodd looking to be initially impeded in his chase before reacting the quickest in the confusion to pounce on the loose ball and score behind the posts.
22’ 21-5 TRY ECCLES (Jason Dodd ) CONC (Will Parkinson)
With around half an hour played Simpson left the field with an injury to be replaced by Connor at Loosehead. The wind was now causing havoc with passing and line outs for the opponents but Eccles stuck to their task and once inside the Wigan 22 looked to keep momentum with quick penalty taps. Coop, playing at blindside, was unlucky not to score with a darting charge on a terrific line. Pears attempted to continue the attack from close range but the next low drive for the line was judged to be knocked on and Wigan were able to survive and briefly move play back to the halfway line with 36’ on the clock.
With a high level of energy, good discipline and a low penalty count Eccles were in control and were unfortunate not to score a fourth try before the interval, when Ackers- Johnson and Fortune combined in a tight spot on the touchline to entertain the home support with some neat handling to recycle the attack.
HT 21-5
In the second half the wet and windy weather deteriorated with heavy driving rain decreasing the pace and accuracy of play. Eccles continued to attempt to run the ball out of their territory but the conditions were not favourable and the knock ons and scrums increased, the game lost momentum and the teams became locked in a wrestle inside the Eccles half.
Dodd who had worked tirelessly at centre was replaced by Matt Parkinson and Eccles almost pulled off an astonishing counter attack, from a defensive line out in front of their goal line, when Fortune’s high kick up field was suspended in the wind and caught by the advancing Ackers-Johnson who charged up the wing with the ball to the halfway line with Coop in close support. From the breakdown here Eccles attempted to switch play at speed to the opposite wing. Although an audacious cross field kick from openside Spooner didn’t come off it was righlty celebrated for its endeavour.
At 51’ prop Burdon was shown a yellow for a high elbow when carrying into contact and, reduced to 14 men, Eccles were put under sustained pressure inside their 22 by Wigan, who twice attempted to kick through the line, with the ball bouncing out of play. The resolute Eccles defence stood firm and the score remained unchanged. At 58’ the tenacious Coop was replaced by Russell who immediately got stuck into the action with his usual verve. Despite the fresh legs Eccles were unable to make much progress for 10 minutes and as the conditions and handling deteriorated, play became a bit frantic and frustrated. The previously dominant scrum had lost some of its assurance since the departure of Simpson and Cunningham and a reshuffling of the pack was required as personnel were rotated.
Coop returned to the field and with Higginbottom, Pears, Connor and Longford still carrying hard and direct Eccles took the game to Wigan for the final 10 minutes. With the backs stretching play from coast to coast, gaps began to appear in the tiring defence and the sustained possession and pressure eventually converted to points when Spooner broke through to score and secure the bonus point.
78’ 26-5 TRY ECCLES (Spooner)
80’ 31-5 TRY ECCLES (Will Parkinson)
With a few minutes remaining on the clock Eccles pressed home their advantage at the restart and Parkinson took the opportunity to use his pace to cut through on the left to claim his second try, and Eccles fifth, just before the whistle. All in all, this was an improved, disciplined perfomance from Eccles who, with three wins from three games, moved to second place in Counties 1, held off the top spot by points difference.
FT 31-5
Eccles team: Sam Simpson, Jack Burdon, James Cuningham, Cammy Higginbottom, Scott Pears, Martin Coop Nick Spooner (VC), Connor Longford; Sam Long, Chirs Fortune (C); Gavin Ackers-Johnson, Harry Candland, Jason Dodd, Will Parkinson, Marcus Mercer. Replacements Rhys Conor, Harvey Russell, Matt Parkinson.
Next Saturday the 1XV will be looking to continue their winning form against Liverpool St Helens, who took home a 17-25 victory in their last visit to Gorton Street in March 2022.
