Eccles RFC

From the restart Eccles enjoyed good possession and set about building an attacking response through phases of forwards hammering away inside Didsbury territory. With 12’ on the clock the Didsbury #8 was shown a yellow for a dangerous tip tackle on Higginbottom. The penalty was kicked to touch for a line out on the right and from here pinpoint passing across the back line released Bates to fly up the left wing. The score in the corner was denied but from the resulting 5-meter scrum, Eccles increased the pressure on the Didsbury goal line with a strong drive and good footwork from Longford resulted in a try for the #8; Parkinson slotted home the conversation from out wide to put the visitors ahead.

Didsbury responded to this set back, keeping play inside the 22 with strong tackling matching strong ball carrying from Eccles. Possession was spilled in contact and great defensive work from Ackers-Johnson was required to prevent a Didsbury try in the corner at 20’. This turned out to be the last threat on the Eccles goal line. 

At 23' the Didsbury #8 returned to the field from the sin bin and, to general disbelief, made his first involvement a high tackle on Spooner, immediately earning himself a red card. Eccles kicked to touch on the left and, with the ball secured, Long spread play across the field to Fortune who fired a bullet pass across the face of three defenders to Ackers-Johnson on the right, whose handling was as assured as his footwork and the wingman finished his surgical work in the corner with a fine score; Parkinson's conversion hit the post. 

Eccles were now in full flow, playing their brand on the banks of the Mersey and two more scores followed in quick succession. Candland used great footwork to evade his would be captors and break out with the ball from deep. Matt Parkinson carried the momentum into the 22, where the increasing ruck speed and precision of Long and Fortune’s combined passing sent in unrelenting waves of forwards, pinning Didsbury to their goal line and setting up a platform for Cox to offload to Ackers-Johnson waiting out wide to score his second in the corner; Will Parkinson slotted the conversion home to add the extra points.  

At the restart, Candland, who was tenacious and tireless throughout in defence and attack, cut straight through the field with strong running and, cheered on by the travelling Eccles support, broke free into the Didsbury 22, charging through to score triumphantly by the posts, making the conversation a formality.  

Didsbury did their best to rally and solid tackling from Spooner denied the hosts a breakthrough in the corner. The Eccles defence stood firm and some strong, evasive running from Bates on the wing released the pressure when he carried the ball from deep inside his 22 up to the halfway line. Play remained in the midfield for the remainder of the half, with Eccles in possession and the pack relishing their work in the loose and the scrum. 

At the break Eccles introduced replacements, Cullen for Long at scrum-half, Cresswell for Coop at Blindside, and both were quickly involved in the action as the game made a lively restart with both teams looking to run the ball. The interval had recharged Didsbury who made Eccles work for hard for their opportunities and for 10 minutes the game was compact and competitive with a strong ball carrying drive from Longford being a notable attempt to get the visitors back on the front foot. Soon after, slick passing released Ackers-Johnson inside Eccles territory and the winger broke free, scorching past the defenders to score between the posts and extend the Eccles lead. 

Following the restart, the Eccles pack had more opportunities to enjoy their dominance of the scrum and line out. With an hour played, Cunningham replaced Simpson who, with his work completed, exited the field with an audacious move, storing his gum shield in what was left of his threadbare sock. The game had became a little frantic but Eccles were savouring the open play and spontaneity. Some lovely rugby saw Bates spark an attack through the middle with Fortune breaking through the line to offload expertly to Ackers-Johnson. Minutes later the same three players combined again with Bates turning over possession on the left flank before looping around to reappear on the right to receive a final pass that was sadly forward. Eccles were pilling on the pressure and another score felt inevitable. From a line-out in the corner, Spooner secured the ball and the unstoppable driving maul saw Cox (returning to the front row after his sabbatical for surgery and holidays) peel off and charge from the back to cross the line.  

At 70’, with Eccles enthusiastically defending inside their 22, injury to Bates and replacement of Higginbottom saw Long and Coop return to the pitch. Determined work from Longford and Cresswell up the middle was continued by Coop and Spooner who successfully carried the counter attack upfield. A line out for Didsbury offered brief respite for the home team before an Eccles scrum just outside the 22 provided Longford with the opportunity to pick and go from the base. Spooner continued the charge to the goal line and flowing rugby across the pitch stretched play out to Matt Parkinson on the left wing, before the ball was recycled back inside for Scott Pears to smash through and score from close range. 

With 5' remaining Eccles were ruthless against a tiring Didsbury defence. The final attack of the game was initiated by Will Parkinson, cutting inside from the left wing where, yet again, quick ruck speed enabled the ball to be moved quickly across the field to Longford who made another storming carry, before some deft handling from Candland released Ackers-Johnson on the right wing, who still had plenty to do but did not disappoint, swerving in and out of the attempted tackles to score his fourth of the game. 

This was an enjoyable, disciplined performance from Eccles against a spirited Didsbury team who, athough disadvantaged by the loss of a player, stuck to the task and made Eccles work for the points. With five wins from five games and (in direct contrast to last season) a consistent line up encountering very few injuries, Eccles now lead the Counties 1 table as they head into a two week break before their next fixture, on 8th November, at home to Broughton Park.