Sat 28 Mar 2026, 15:00
Eccles began the day in 3rd place with their sights set on reducing the 8-point gap between themselves and league leaders Wilmslow, in the knowledge that absences on the team sheet would not make the challenge of reversing the 26-17 defeat at the Memorial Ground back in December any easier.
With a strong westerley wind blowing down the pitch the game got underway in bright and blustery conditions and for almost half an hour play was in one direction, with Eccles attacking and Wilmslow tackling with equal physicality and determination.
From the kick off and first scrum Eccles showed their intent, as the Wilmslow pack were driven back. Further drives from the forwards through the middle were soaked up by the visitors as Eccles looked to recycle the ball quickly with sharp breakdown work. Sustained possession and pressure kept play inside Wilmslow territory for 15 minutes as a series of penalties were awarded to Eccles, with the quick tap preferred initially before a kickable penalty was declined in favour of a scrum 15m out presenting a good opportunity for the first points. However the ball was lost and when the clearing kick was charged down inside the in-goal Wilmslow pounced on it as the crowd held their breath.
Eccles continued to dominate possession. Strong carries from Simpson, Higginbottom, Pears and Spooner kept Eccles on the first foot but there was very little space on the pitch and few gaps in the disciplined Wilmslow defence which held firm. 20 minutes into the game a chipped kick from Holland gave Ackers-Johnson his first clear chance to break through the line, resulting in a penalty to Eccles inside the 22, in front of the posts, drilled wide into the wind by Parkinson.
With 25 minutes played and the game still in deadlock Wilmslow used the strong wind at their backs to boot play into the Eccles half. Eccles won the scrum but then put themselves under pressure, with the resulting Wilmslow penalty kicked to the corner for a line out. The Eccles defence, called into action for the first time, held firm against the drive with the ball judged to be held up by match official Mr Karl Kirkpatrick. Play moved back to the halfway line where a poor pass from Fortune in midfield landed at the feet of Holland and the loose ball was hacked through by Wilmslow for a kick and chase to the goal line. Eccles #11 Ackers-Johnson and Wilmslow #14 Meredith raced and dived together to reach the tumbling ball with Ackers-Johnson’s head putting it dead. However, the referee was convinced of a grounding and awarded the try; converted whilst the crowd were still disputing its validity.
26’ 0-7 TRY WILMSLOW (Meredith) CONV (Davidson).
Wilmslow were encouraged by this turn of events and things quickly became worse for Eccles following the restart when Meredith broke free through the open field. Wilmslow #8 Thorp carried the attack into the 22, Eccles #8 Spooner halted his progress and was sent to the bin for his actions, with Wilmslow slotting home the penalty to extend their lead.
28’ YELLOW CARD ECCLES (Spooner)
28’ 0-10 PENALTY WILMSLOW (Davidson).
Eccles set about regaining control with 14 men and took the game to Wilmslow from the restart. An attacking line out at 34 minutes provided a platform to move the ball quickly into the centre where a drive from Dodd resulted in a penalty. Eccles called for a scrum and Dodd once again charged in with the ball but his attempt to score was also judged to be held up. Soon after, a break from Russell down the left looked destined for success in the corner until a knock on gave Wilmslow a defensive scrum from where they cleared up field with the boot. Eccles were not to be denied. The ball was gathered by Fullback Parkinson and passed to Ackers-Johnson on his right, who evaded a couple of tackles before offloading back to Parkinson, sweeping around outside to score behind the sticks and convert his try.
37’ 7-10 TRY ECCLES (Parkinson) CONV (Parkinson).
At the break there was plenty of contentious points to discuss. Eccles had dominated the first half but failed to turn the pressure they created into points against a resilient Wilmslow defence, who held the lead in the close contest despite having had very little possession.
HT 7-10
Wilmslow made a good start to the second half with their backs making good ground and finding the gaps in Eccles defence inside the 22 for the #8 to power through from close range and finish a well worked move.
45’ 7-17 TRY WILMSLOW (Thorp) CONV (Parkinson).
After loosing the ball at the restart, Eccles worked hard to regain possession and at around 50 minutes introduced replacements, Luke Cullen for Manzanares up front, Mercer for Russell at the back. Eccles changed gear in an attempt to shift the ball quicker to the edges. Possession was moved across the field to the right, pulling in the Wilmslow defence to deal with a break from Ackers-Johnson and then switched to the open space on the opposite flank with a superb 50-22 from Danny Holland (perhaps a 22-22 as it was kicked from inside his own 22) to claim an attacking line out deep inside Wilmslow territory. Spooner secured the ball and from the resulting driving maul Cox made a disruptive break from the back, with #12 Danny Holland then cutting through the defensive line in the middle to race in and score a slick try between the uprights; Converted.
53’ 14-17 TRY ECCLES (Holland) CONV (Parkinson).
For the next 10 minutes the 3-point game remained tight as both teams jabbed away lookign for gaps but despite the efforts of Fortune, Mercer, Dodd and Pears to break through, Eccles were unable to build upon on the momentum of their second try and ultimatley ran out of steam - and props - as the game entered the last quarter.
Wilmslow overcame their nerves and built sustained pressure on Eccles, kicking a midfield penalty to the corner with #8 Thorp crashing through but his effort was judged to be held up. Wilmslow replacement #16 Van Der Linde was next to come close, with his effort ruled out for a double movement. Eccles attempted to break out from a line out but a handling error in the midfield gave the visitors a scrum inside the 22. The strength of the Wilmslow bench was evident when the Eccles pack, a powerful force in the first half, was driven backwards with the score denied by Coop on the line. Play was stopped to deal with an injury and from the next scrum to Wilmslow, a penalty try was awarded.
65’ 14-24 PENALTY TRY WILMSLOW.
Eccles responded, running the ball from deep, with quick tap penalties in the middle to move play out wide to Ackers-Johnson who was almost through twice to score, before excellent cover tackling from the Wilmslow back line snuffed out the danger. In the last 10 minutes Simpson was replaced by Eaton and with injured Higginbottom unable to continue Eccles completed the game with 14 men and uncontested scrums. Wilmslow drove home their advantage, pinning Eccles inside their 22. From an uncontested scrum #16 Van Der Linde scored from close range and good work from #9 Milner and #10 Barker in the middle set up #14 Meredith to score out wide; converted to complete the result.
72’ 14-29 TRY WILMSLOW (Van der Linde)
76’ 14-36 TRY WILMSLOW (E Meredith) CONV (Davidson)
There was time for Eccles to the end the game attacking but Ackers-Johnson was wrapped up by the defence out wide and with possession lost at the breakdown inside the 22, Wilmslow kicked the ball into touch to wrap up a strong second half performance and win that keeps them top of the division with three games to go.
Success is defined by persistence, endurance and final results rather than initial circumstances - to quote Cy Coleman, it's not how you start it's how you finish. There are still points and games to be won and Eccles will be looking to put this set back behind them when they face 2nd place Warrington, away, in their next fixture, Saturday 11th April.
FT 14-36
Eccles team: Simpson, Cox (C), Higginbottom, Coop, Pears, Manzanares, White, Spooner. T Cullen, Fortune (VC). Ackers-Johnson, Holland, Dodd, Russell, Parkinson. Replacements: Eaton, L Cullen, Mercer.
