Sat 7 Mar 2026, 15:00
Eccles did not miss the opportunity to secure a third consecutive win on Saturday, with a dominant display against visitors New Brighton. In the last meeting between the clubs, back in November, Eccles got off to a flyer scoring in the opening minutes before going on to claim a 25-36 win on the Wirral coast. With both teams recently returning to winning form another competitive game was expected but the reverse fixture at Gorton Street was not a close contest.
From the kick off Eccles made good ground, breaking through the middle with strong carrying from Pears and Spooner leading to a penalty which was despatched for a line out on the left inside the 22. Accurate handling moved the ball across the pitch with stand-off Fortune slipping through the tackler’s grasp and offloading to Parkinson who released Ackers-Johnson outside to sweep around and score the first points. Conversion hit the post.
3’ 5-0 ECCLES TRY (Ackers-Johnson)
For the next 10 minutes New Brighton struggled to retain possession or contain Eccles, who established their authority in the scrum. A second penalty kick for Eccles was sliced and failed to find touch but Holland’s pace at #12 allowed him to gather the loose ball 15m out from the goal line with Cox and Russell charging up in quick support. The game became frantic for a short period until an Eccles scrum presented the opportunity to regain composure and set a platform with crisp passing releasing Russell, who powered the attack up the left flank and scored in the corner. Conversion missed.
14’ 10-0 ECCLES TRY (Russell)
Following the restart New Brighton were able to disrupt play in the middle as the breakdowns became slower and the game became a bit messy, but once inside the 22 Eccles’ slick passing increased the tempo with Fortune sending Dodd crashing through the centre before play was brought back to an earlier infringement and 10m scrum awarded to Eccles. The push over score looked inevitable with the ball under control at the back but somehow possession and opportunity were lost in front of the goal line and New Brighton were able to release the pressure through the boot. Eccles were soon returning the ball with interest and another midfield penalty was kicked for a line out where a terrific catch and drive maul, with great work from Cox, Manzanres and Higginbottom, set up Fortune to wriggle free and pop a short pass to Dodd, on his shoulder, to charge through and score under the posts.
26’ 17-0 ECCLES TRY (Dodd) CONV (Parkinson)
With half a hour played New Brighton responded, with some sustained possession inside the Eccles 22. A rare penalty against Eccles for offside, 10m out, required some heroic tackling and disciplined defensive work on the goal line before the ball was eventually moved out wide for the visitors to score in the corner.
33’ 17-5 NEW BRIGHTON TRY
Eccles reacted to this with a strong drive from Spooner acting as the catalyst for a break through just before the break, with Burdon contributing a lovely 45 degree pass to set Fortune free to run behind, loop with Dodd in the middle and elusively slip through through the gap outside, completing the move with a clean pass wide to Ackers-Johnson to finish the flowing move with a fine try as the last action; converted.
39’ 24-5 ECCLES TRY (Ackers-Johnson) CONV (Parkinson)
HT 24-5
Early in the second half Eccles introduced replacements (Campbell for Cunningham, Luke Cullen for Dodd, Long for Tim Cullen) and a scrum on the left gave all three the opportunity to make an immediate impact, with Cullen driving through the middle, Long recycling the ball quickly to Fortune who neatly offloaded to Ackers-Johnson and nothing could stop the winger scoring his hat trick. Great rugby.
45’ 31-5 ECCLES TRY (Ackers-Johnson) CONV (Parkinson).
Tighthead Burdon was clearly enjoying his game, regularly contributing big carries and a repertoire of passing to his effective scrummaging. Tension between the forwards sparked a fracas that spilled off the pitch. Mr Jon Amor, referee, spoke with the captains and the game restarted with a scrum on the left wing close to the Eccles 22. Play moved upfield with some quick work at the rucks and slick passing between Long Cullen and Holland in the middle, releasing Russell out wide on the left and the wing forward added to his impressive performance with a strong charge to the corner to score his second.
49’ 36-5 ECCLES TRY (Russell).
At 50’ Dodd replaced Manzanares with Cullen moving from centre to the back row. At 60’ a clean line out catch from Spooner set in motion more quick, slick passing across the field between Long, Holland and Fortune with the final pass from Russell unable to find the waiting hands of Ackers-Johnson to finish what would have been a wonderful try. New Brighton’s exit kick was caught by Spooner near the half way line, his charge took the ball back into the 22 and from here more good passing across the pitch and a drive from Cox almost released Ackers-Johnson on the left but again the final pass was wayward. Despite this frustration, Eccles were playing their best rugby of the game and with New Brighton stretched another score seemed imminent. At 70’ Eccles were awarded a 10m scrum and shunted New Brighton backwards, with Longford showing good footwork at the back to score. Converted.
70’ 43-5 ECCLES TRY (Longford) CONV (Parkinson).
In the last 10 minutes of the game Eccles raised the tempo of their play, with momentum encouraged and maintained by Long and Fortune. Luke Cullen was twice involved in the penultimate attack, cutting through the New Brighton defence to move Eccles to within a meter of the line and Sam Long was on hand to pick up and stretch over to score to the side of the uprights. Try converted.
72’ 50-5 ECCLES TRY (Long) CONV (Parkinson).
Eccles finished the game with a break down the right wing, Parkinson making a deft offload to Russell outside him, who powered through the tackle to the line and reached over to compete his hat trick.
78’ 55-5 ECCLES TRY (Russell).
This was an assured, commanding team performance from Eccles, overwhelming New Brighton with 9 tries (5 conversations) in attack, just 6 penalties against them in defence and very few errors overall securing another bonus-point win to keep them in contention with five games to go. Absences in recent weeks have not affected momentum and the galvanised squad has delivered improved results, week on week, with players successfully adapting to changing roles.
FT 55-5
Eccles team: Cunningham, Cox (C), Burdon, Higginbottom, Pears, Manzanares, Spooner, Longford. T. Cullen, Fortune (VC). Ackers-Johnson, Holland, Dodd, Russell, Parkinson. Replacements: Campbell, L Cullen, Long.
Next Saturday the 1XV have a break in fixtures (2XV are away at Widnes) and will travel to Tarleton on 21st March and then face Wllmslow at home on the 28th March.
