Sat 6 Dec 2025, 14:15
With both teams in good form, having only lost one game each all season (a 51-52 defeat in Wilmslow’s case) this top of the table contest in miserable conditions was set up to be a test of resolve and championship credentials, in which Wilmslow ultimately rose to the challenge with a ruthless performance and an error-prone Eccles came up short.
Wilmslow were bolstered by the return of Cooper, Parker and Thorp to the pack and club captain Stockwin to the bench. Eccles absences forced a changed line up with Connor at hooker, Cox at 8, Wright called in at 10, Fortune to fullback and Parkinson to the wing, with Olly White making his return from injury on the bench alongside Tom Cresswell stepping up for his first team debut.
Eccles kicked off in the rain, Wilmslow received and immediately kicked for territory with a short passage of play resulting in an Eccles line out inside Wilmslow territory. From here a poor pass to Wright, landing at his feet resulted in a penalty to Wilmslow in the first minute. The first sign of trouble for Eccles and an early signal that the team who made the fewest mistakes would likely prosper. Wilmslow’s tackling was ferocious, Eccles penalties were numerous and a turn-over and a good pass opened up the space for the hosts to score the opening points.
2’ 7-0 TRY WILMSLOW (Meredith) CONV.
At the restart Eccles scuffed the kick, Wilmslow carried, Eccles turned over possession on the halfway line and set about building an attacking platform. An offside and then a penalty by Wilmslow gave Eccles a scrum on the left inside the 22, from here swift passing down the line from Long and Wright, aided by Candland and Mercer deception in the centre, released Ackers-Johnson out on the right who stooped to scoop and used his pace to power through and score a fine try in response; conversion missed.
8’ 7-5 TRY ECCLES (Ackers-Johnson).
It would be 69 minutes before Eccles scored again. At the restart Eccles knocked on inside their 22 and two scrums later Eccles found themselves pinned in their own territory and defending deep. Openside Spooner made an excellent jackal turnover to offer respite from the pressure and from the line out Candland made a strong carry to the halfway line, before the effort and good work of the pistons was undone when possession was spilled out wide and the ball was simply kicked by Wilmslow back to the Eccles 22, where a high tackle in front of posts gave the hosts an easy 3 points.
17’ 10-5 PENALTY WILMSLOW.
Eccles were unable to make any progress at the restart with Wilmslow increasing their defensive work rate, giving Eccles no space to breathe either out wide or in the middle. Openside Cooper in particular was instrumental in suffocating any breakouts. With Eccles support too slow in arriving at a breakdown, Wilmslow kicked their next penalty back into the 22. From an Eccles scrum Mercer was caught attempting to run the ball out of defence, and with Eccles too often stepping up too early another penalty was awarded for offside in front of the posts for another three easy points.
25’ 13-5 PENALTY WILMSLOW.
Wilmslow were playing the conditions better and succeeding with straight forward old school rugby, kicking to the 22, keeping their opposition pinned inside the danger zone until they made a mistake then slotting home the kick. Eccles could not get out of their half and a drive off the back of the next Wilmslow scrum presented the home team with more easy points in front of the posts.
27’ 16-5 PENALTY WILMSLOW.
From the restart Wilmslow caught and once again kicked to touch. Eccles secured the ball and with much grunt and grind gained some hard fought yards, but then fumbled the ball for another scrum. Candland produced an excellent jackal to turnover possession but any attempt by Eccles to move play quickly to the flanks was soon smothered by Wilmslow, who maintained their pressure as the rain got heavier and the pitch deteriorated. From a scum just outside the Eccles 22, an offside at the ruck in the middle of the pitch gave Wilmslow their next points and a well deserved lead at the break.
38’ 19-5 PENALTY WILMSLOW.
HT 19-5
Much of the second half was played in the midfield, with the rain easing off but ground cutting up. Eccles succeeded in keeping the game out of their 22 and inside Wilmslow territory for sustained periods, with the hosts happy to soak it up and take advantage of Eccles errors to clear upfield through the boot.
White had replaced Cunningham at the interval and with about 10 minutes played Wright was replaced by Cullen, leading to Fortune now moving to 10. Play was now attritional with Eccles grinding away but making little progress with knock-ons a regular feature. Eventually Eccles paid the price for persistent penalties when lock Higginbottom committed a high tackle at a ruck in front of the sticks and was sent to the bin. Cunningham returned to the field briefly for the scrum but nothing could stop the Wilmslow number 8 crashing through from the close range to score at the side of the posts and the easy conversion.
52’ YELLOW ECCLES (Higginbottom).
53’ 26-5 TRY WILMSLOW (Thorp). CONV.
An injury to Connor meant Eccles restarted with 13 and White was sent back into the pack. Wilmslow caught the ball and immediately kicked to touch, a trademark move. Eccles secured the ball at the line out and Mercer charged through middle but the promising attack into the 22 came to nothing when a decoy runner was assessed to be obstructing a tackle and a penalty for crossing allowed Wilmslow to move play back into the Eccles half.
With an hour played Eccles were still struggling to get through the gears with scrums being a regular disruption to any flowing play but there were signs that the game may see some running rugby when Fortune made a break into the 22. An Eccles penalty was quickly tapped and pistons carried the attack until possession was spilled and Wilmslow kicked to touch. At 68’ Cresswell entered the field to join the back row and instantly caught the eye as his fresh pristine shirt got involved in the action. Sooner after Eccles broke the midfield with Mercer and Fortune combining but with open turf stretching out in front of him Ackers-Johnson could not hold onto the ball. Clearly, it was not to be Eccles’ day. With the players toiling in the mud the spaces were beginning to emerge. The home team were the first to take advantage when they made good yards out wide before heading into the middle and from a short drive Wilmslow capped off their scoring with a second converted try for the winger.
72’ 33-5 TRY WILMSLOW (Meredith). CONV.
Although the game looked to be over, Eccles had enough in the tank to finish the stronger of the teams with Wilmslow tiring after the enormous effort they had expended in defence throughout. Eccles pistons lead to a penalty which was kicked to touch, from this line out Mercer burst the line and the ball was offloaded to Candland who cut right through the middle of the defence to score to the side of posts.
77’ 33-12 TRY ECCLES (Candland) CONV (Parkinson)
Ackers-Johnson was to have the last word when, following the restart, Eccles pistons through middle once again set up some slick passing across the pitch to release the winger out wide on the right, who broke free of the first tackler and then two more behind him on ground behind him as he sped away to score behind the sticks.
79’ 33-19 TRY ECCLES (Ackers-Johnson) CONV (Parkinson)
There was enough time remaining for Eccles to gather possession at the restart and charge forward through Spooner to set up another break for Ackers-Johnson who raced into the Wilmslow 22 but was forced into touch before he could threaten the goal line and the match was brought to a conclusion.
In muddy wet conditions, it had not been a day for running and skill, it had been a day for graft. Wilmslow made very few errors, missed very few tackles, and worked hard in defence to suppress and force Eccles into compounded errors. As the players shook hands the remains of the heavily battered pitch at one end told its own story of the contest, the spotless shirt of the Wilmslow stand off amongst all the mudmen told its own. The nominated men of the match were the 7s, Cooper and Spooner. Eccles have the perfect opportunity to respond to this set back when they face Warrington next Saturday.
33-19 FT
Eccles team: James Cunningham #, Rhys Connor, Jack Burdon, Cameron Higginbottom #, Scott Pears #, Martin Coop #, Nick Spooner #, Fin Cox (C) #. Sam Long, James Wright #, Gavin Akers-Johnson, Harry Candland #, Marcus Mercer, Will Parkinson #, Chris Fortune (VC). Replacements Tom Cresswell, Oliver White, Tim Cullen #.
