Sat 4 Oct 2025
Eccles Ladies ran out for our first home fixture of the season, with excitement of a Saturday fixture and welcoming Lincoln ladies all the way from the Far East, beyond the end of the M62!
The starting line up stayed similar to Southport, with strength in substitutes on the bench. With Eccles captain Emma Marks, winning the coin toss, Eccles received the ball on kick off and began with the relentless wind behind thier backs. Posession was transferred through hands and into a strong and secure carry from Hayley Smith putting the home team on the front foot. Subsequent, hard carries saw Eccles reach the halfway line. In a quick move from Lincoln, the ball was turned over and Eccles has their first taste of defence. Lincoln attacked the Eccles line, compressing the forwards before whipping the ball into the hands of the Lincoln backs and the visitors scored and successfully converted with a few minutes played.
Eccles 0 - 7 Lincoln
The weather conditions turned and for a biref period the game enjoyed some sunshine and with this an opportunity for Eccles to get points in the scoreboard. A strong restart kick from Lucy Whailing-Mills, put the ball deep into Lincoln’s half, Eccles applied pressure through dominant tackles to keep Lincoln in their own half. The Game continued with hard running from Lincoln met with strong defence from Eccles, but errors result in the Eccles forwards seeing more of their familiar favourite, the scrum. Although the hosts are able to stand their ground, a successful drive from the visitors sees Lincoln winning the ball back and a 2nd try is scored and converted.
Eccles 0 - 14 Lincoln
Another deep restart kick from Lucy Whailing-Mills, into Lincoln terriotry, drops the ball into the hands of the strong-running number 11 who immediatley searches out a weak spot in the Eccles defence and cutting straight through the middle of the line, Lincoln score their third try. The conversion is missed.
Eccles 0 - 19 Lincoln
HALF TIME
At the break Women’s head coach Katie Houghton introduced replacements and fresh legs entered the game with brightening hope for the second half.
From the whistle Eccles attack and strong meters are made edging their way toward the try line. A close battle between the competing sides sees the scoreboard remain stable for 20 minutes with neither team quite managing to get the ball over the line. An Eccles error results in a line ou and Lincoln opt to bring in the full line, leaving Eccles backs to hold back the attack. The ball is secured by Lincoln and a well planned attack leads to their 4th try, scored and converted successfully.
Eccles 0 - 26 Lincoln
In the final quarter of the game, Eccles manage to maintain an attack inside the opposition half, working from edge to edge, seeking the points. 15 minutes pass, Eccles see a penalty on the 5 meter line but fail to score beofre the whistle is blown.
FT Eccles 0 - 26 Lincoln
Eccles experience a frustrating end to the game at Gorton Street, but with each match comes lessons and if the team can pull together and improve collectively, better performacens and results are possible. Eccles Ladies will certainly look forward to meeting Lincoln again, away, in January. The next match hosted at home is on Sunday 26th October, round one of the Papa Johns Community Cup.
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