Sat 17 Jan 2026
Following the Christmas break and two weeks of frozen pitches, Eccles finally took to the field on Saturday for the first game of 2026, raring to go after a month without rugby. Cunningham, Longford and Ackers-Johnson made a return to the starting line up, with Eaton, Russell and former colt Gardiner, called up for his first team debut, in reserve. The Douglas Valley ground was in good condition and Eccles were immediately on the front foot, putting Wigan under sustained pressure inside their 22. The first of a series of penalties was kicked to the corner for an Eccles line out and with the ball secured, the visitors moved play swiftly across the pitch, stretching the defence in search of an opening, until a deliberate knock on saw the Wigan Winger sent to the bin.
3’ YELLOW WIGAN
Eccles maintained their attacking pressure, dominating a pair of scrums, driving Wigan backwards inside the 22, but this good work was undone by Longford who was shown a cautionary card for a retaliation by Referee Mr Ralston who made it clear to both teams he was not going to stand for any nonsense.
10’ YELLOW ECCLES (Longford)
Eccles regained composure and the ball, and an attack down the left wing saw the flying dutchman speed into the corner to score the first points of the game; Parkinson accurately slotting home the extras from out wide.
12’ 0-7 TRY ECCLES (Holland) CONV (W Parkinson)
Eccles sensed they had the hosts on the ropes and wasted no time at the restart in taking the game to Wigan with Fortune ripping possession in midfield to release Ackers-Johnson on the right wing who advanced the attack into the 22 before an excellent tackle took him into touch. The Eccles pack kept the pressure on Wigan causing chaos in the line out and scrum and with possession won Mercer reacted quickly at close range to score.
16’ 0-14 TRY ECCLES (Mercer) CONV (W Parkinson)
Fortune’s distribution and Ackers-Johnson’s speed and elusive running continued to create problems for Wigan and when the winger cut inside with the ball to weave through through the broken defence he looked destined to score, until he was brought down just short of the goal line but his audacious offload in the tackle to Mercer, racing up in close support, completed the attack as the centre stooped to scoop up possession and score his second.
18’ 0-21 TRY ECCLES (Mercer) CONV (W Parkinson)
For the next 10 minutes Eccles maintained dominance, pinning Wigan inside their territory. The forwards in particular were enjoying their work, regularly breaking the gain line and driving the hosts back in the scrum. Wigan’s determined defence prevented a breach in the left corner and as Mercer and Candland moved possession swiftly across the back line another Eccles score appeared imminent until Parkinson was nailed by a big hit before he could dispatch to the eager hands of Ackers-Johnson outside. Wigan rallied and took the opportunity to move the ball upfield, briefly, into Eccles territory before Holland sparked a counter attack with a superb kick, chase and tackle, taking play back towards the Wigan goal line. Spooner gathered up possession and fired the ball out to Longford who charged in to the corner to score; Parkinson converting with another accurate strike from the left.
32’ 0-28 TRY ECCLES (Longford) CONV (W Parkinson)
Wigan were struggling to cope with the pace and intensity of Eccles play. With increasing confidence and quickening ruck speed gaps were opening up all over the field. Eccles elected to ignore the right flank where the Wigan winger was limping with an injury and instead attacked to the left corner, where Longford offloaded to Holland who raced in and scootered around to the posts to score his second try.
35’ 0-35 TRY ECCLES (Holland) CONV (W Parkinson)
At the restart Wigan kicked the ball straight out providing Eccles with the attacking platform of a scrum on the halfway line. Longford and Cullen combined to release Candland who cut clean through on a terrific line. The pass inside to Mercer swung the direction of the attack back to the right and Parkinson carried the ball over the line to score; adding the extras with another fine strike through the sticks.
37’ 0-42 TRY ECCLES (W Parkinson) CONV (W Parkinson)
There was still time before the interval for Eccles to strike again, with Mercer breaking quickly though the lines at the restart, cutting inside and offloading to fullback Parkinson who outpaced the scrambling defence to run the ball in under the posts and add the conversation to wrap up a tremendous first half performance from Eccles who had, despite some committed tackling from Wigan, dominated all areas of the game with high work rate, good decisions and very few errors to put 49 unanswered points on the board before the break.
40’ 0-49 TRY ECCLES (W Parkinson) CONV (W Parkinson)
HT 0-49
Eccles exchanged Eaton for Cunningham in the front row, but other wise began the second half in the same style as they had finished the first, with swift clear outs from the forwards and great lines of running from the backs. Mercer and Parkinson spearheaded the attack into Wigan territory and with Cullen quickly recycling the ball inside the 22 Fortune was able to show his class, swerving through the defence to score; converted.
42’ 0-54 TRY ECCLES (Fortune) CONV (W Parkinson)
Cullen was replaced by Gardiner who went to centre alongside Candland, with Holland moving to scrum half, Mercer to fullback and Parkinson to the wing. This adjustment redirected the fuel and though there was still plenty of power in the tank the Eccles engine appeared to lose some of its synchronicity as play became disjointed for 15 minutes and Wigan regrouped with renewed commitment to their defence. Eccles began to force the flamboyant with ambitious play when simplicity would have served them better. At 50 minutes Simpson recognised this deviation from the blue print and took the opportunity to pass on correctional instructions to his men as he replaced White, who had worked tirelessly throughout at blindside, with Russell.
Soon after from a midfield scrum, Holland, Fortune and Mercer combined to release Ackers-Johnson who carried the attack into the 22. Under pressure, Wigan stole possession and looked to make a break before Pears returned the ball with interest. From another scrum drive a penalty was kicked by Fortune to the corner. From the line out Gardiner used good footwork in close quarters to keep the opportunity alive and then ran a solid blocker for the evasive Fortune to sweep around and score his second try from close range; converted.
58’ 0-61 TRY ECCLES (Fortune) CONV (W Parkinson).
Eaton took responsibility for a deep kick at the restart with a strong carry to the edge of the 22. Wigan earned a scrum at the breakdown but Eccles regained possession and a destructive drive from Pears up the middle set the platform for a counter attack through Candland who sliced straight through the middle of the field on a wonderful line, offloading to Mercer in support and Ackers-Johnson was primed to fire in and score the try that his performance deserved.
62’ 0-68 TRY ECCLES (Ackers-Johnson) CONV (W Parkinson).
In the last quarter of the game, Eccles faltered as another reshuffle was required when Fortune had the misfortune of pulling his hamstring, executing a kick and chase and was forced to leave the field. The Eccles pack continued their in their collective effort aroud the park and Candland was unlucky not to be rewarded for his admirable endeavour with a try when he was tackled just short of the goal line, but aside from these highlights, much of the earlier cohesiveness was missing. Wigan, who had showed great character and spirit throughout, began to fight their way back into the game in the last 10 minutes and an interception of a midfield pass just inside the Eccles half gave the hosts their first breakthrough opportunity for points, which was well finished in the corner by the winger.
73’ 5-68 TRY WIGAN (Morgan).
Minutes later the Wigan fullback made a great break right through the middle of the packed field, chased and tackled by Ackers-Johnson, but not before offloading inside to the centre who in turn found his supporting flanker and he charged in from close range to score.
77’ 12-68 TRY WIGAN (Seabrook). CONV (Morgan)
Eccles ended the match attacking, with Russell and Holland combining to break into the Wigan 22, but with play halted for an infringement in front of the goal line and with numerous bodies laid out around the pitch the match official brought the contest to a satisfying close.
FT 12-68
Wigan battled to the very end and deserved their points. Eccles were relentless and ruthless in attack but lost shape and connection in the later stages of the game. Not a complete, consistent 80-minute performance but a very good, entertiing performance after a lengthy break and a convincing 10-try win on the road, to keep Eccles in Counties 1 contention with two games in hand. Hopefully we’ll not see any more winter weather disruptions. Next Saturday, Eccles travel to Liverpool St Helens.
Eccles team: Cunningham, Cox, Burdon, Coop, Pears, White, Spooner, Longford; Cullen, Fortune; Holland, Mercer, Candland, Ackers-Johnson, W Parkinson. Replacements: Eaton, Russell, Gardiner.
