Sat 28 Sep 2019
Match Report
Saturday morning’s rain subsided, the grey clouds parted and the appearance of the sun as the teams took to the field brought with it the optimism and promise of a great game of rugby. Sadly, the sunshine along with sparkling moments of play was to be patchy for the rest of the afternoon.
Eccles made a decent start enjoying a good possession for the opening exchanges but sloppy handling allowed the visitors to press the attack back into home territory. Eccles shifted the ball from left to right flank, fullback Harry Hutton advanced beyond the halfway line and kicked accurately over the defence to the right corner where winger Will Parkinson gave chase, beating the opposition fullback to pounce onto the rolling ball in the in-goal area for a try at 7 minutes to put Eccles ahead 5-0. The remainder of the first half was played mostly in the middle of the pitch with unforced errors being characteristic of Eccles’ performance. With quarter of an hour played, the visitors capitalised on this lack of care and urgency at the breakdown, turning over Eccles possession 10m in front of the posts and from the resulting chaos scored a try; converted 5-7. Eccles respond and following attacking pressure earn a penalty on the left which Chris Fortune slots home to retake the lead 8-7. The score remained unchanged at the break, with handling errors from both teams keeping it a close, gruelling midfield contest.
Eccles begin the second period with purpose and enjoyed a majority of possession, but all in their own half. Aspatria’s industry pays off with 52 minutes played, when a penalty is inexplicably given away in centre field, an opportunity the visitors do not squander, the kick putting them ahead 8-10. The frustration from this triggers a reaction from Eccles who put the visitors under sustained attacking pressure. A destructive charge through the middle from Tighthead Mark Greenhalgh, continued by Spooner provides space for winger Damola Ayanlaja-Lowo to exploi on the left. Eccles continue to probe for an opening through several phases inside the Aspatria 22. However the cumbrian defence are resolute and ensure only a penalty is earned from this concerted assault. Fortune kicks the points to return momentum back to Eccles, 11-10. Eccles are ruthless from the restart and smell blood. Damola chips over the top into space behind the advancing defenders, his attacking charge is taken out cynically, but play continues with the ball kicked on and chased by Hutton towards the line. Former colt, Centre Harry Candland, is alert to the bouncing ball between the fullbacks and scoops it up to score his debut 1XV try. 16-10, with 10 or so minutes on the clock.
Aspatria keep possession for the final stage of the match and make Eccles work very hard for the victory. Lots of unforced errors, a frustrating, scrappy game with few highlights to report. The win puts Eccles at thrid in the league table on 15 points (W3 L1)
Highlights
07’ 5-0 TRY Eccles (W Parkinson)
16’ 5-7 TRY Aspatria
26’ 8-7 PENALTY Eccles (Fortune)
HT 8-7
52’ 8-10 PENALTY Aspatria
67’ 11-10 PENALTY Eccles (Fortune)
69’ 16-10 TRY Eccles (Candland)
FT 16-10
Team
1 James Cunningham, 2 Jack Robbins, 3 Mark Greenhalgh, 4 Nick Spooner, 5 Cammy Higginbottom, 6 Adam Christey, 7 Lee Brennand, 8 Jordan Bromley, 9 Josh Waring, 10 James Wright, 11 Will Parkinson, 12 Chris Fortune, 13 Harry Candland, 14 Damola Ayanlaja-Lowo, 15 Harry Hutton. Replacements 16 Tom Egerton, 17 Curtis Bates, 18 Tim Cullen
Words, Photos - Chris Gaffey
