Sat 12 Oct 2019
HIGHLIGHTS
19’ 0-7 TRY Aspull
20’ 0-14 TRY Aspull
22’ 7-14 TRY Eccles (S Donovan) Conv (J Wright)
27’ 14-14 TRY Eccles (G Ackers-Johnson) Conv (J Wright)
34’ 19-14 TRY Eccles (G Ackers-Johnson) Conv hits post.
39’ 24-14 TRY Eccles (G Ackers-Johnson)
HT 24-14
49’ 31-14 TRY Eccles (J Waring) Conv (J Wright)
56’ 31-17 PENALTY Aspull
63’ 38-17 TRY Eccles (N Spooner) Conv (J Wright)
70’ 38-22 TRY Aspull
74’ 43-22 TRY Eccles (G Ackers-Johnson)
80’ 46-22 PENALTY Eccles (J Wright)
FT 46-22
REPORT
A promising sunny morning turned to overcast for the sixth game of the season in North Two West. Eccles Firsts began the day in 6th positon with 3 wins and 2 away defeats and were looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing performance over on the Wirral last weekend. But to do that they had to overcome an experienced Aspull team who last season took the spoils in all three meetings between the clubs, seemingly holding on to Eccles kryptonite. Aspull arrived at Gorton Street with 2 wins from 4, having suffering a 83-10 defeat to Manchester but bouncing back to beat De la Salle 41-20 last week. And so the stage was set for a competitive afternoon of Rugby, with the Eccles 2XVs entertaining visitors Orrell and the prospect of a Salford v St Helens Rugby League Grand Final later in the day to also look forward to.
Eccles began fired up and with the ball, but rushed passing, knock-ons and scrums were a feature of the opening minutes in the visitor’s half. However, Eccles were quick to re-establish possession and their intensions of keeping the game in Aspull territory. Openside Flanker Tony ‘Braveheart’ Haunschmidt set the tone leading a determined charge through the centre of the opposition defense who piled on the bodies to stop the Scot. Second Row Simon Donovan offered speedy support to the drive and this action signalled the commencement of a sustained period of attacking pressure from Eccles. An early attempt at the Aspull line down the right wing resulted in a penalty 10m from points for an infringement at the ruck but the visitors struggle to escape, Eccles pile on the pressure and the noise from the touchline increased. Blindside Nick Spooner was next to break through the center and he too was tackled short of the line. More scrums and knock-ons occur and Aspull, pinned inside their 22 for 17 minutes, are forced to defend resolutely as Eccles turn the screw. Remarkably, after all that effort and against the run of play, the opposition Fly-Half breaks through the middle and up the other end Aspull are first to score to the side of the sticks! 0-7. And then, straight from the restart an Aspull back gathers the ball, breaks through the broken lines of defense and suddenly in a lapse of focus, and in the space of 2 minutes, the visitors are 0-14 up!
The burning injustice fires the Eccles engines. Following the restart, with ‘Will Power’ shifted to ‘FULL’ , Si Donovan storms through the Aspull defense towards the try line and the winger is powerless to stop the Eccles Express. 7-14. Eccles continue to play attractive attacking rugby as they search for the opportunity to achieve the points thier domiance deserves. Making good use of an overlap on the right flank, centre Matt Parkinson offloads in the tackle to winger Gavin Ackers-Johnson who fends off the fullback and runs the ball into goal area, grounding it under pressure for Eccles' second try, to the delight of the balcony. 14-14. All square with almost 30 mins played.
Eccles do not let off the gas. 5 minutes later Damola breaks on the left and makes good ground into the Aspull 22; the ball is moved quickly across the field by Washy, Long and Wright to the right, where Gav evades the defenders and under pressure of a tackle lunnges for the line to claim a great team try. The Conversion hits the posts but Eccles are dertermined and on top. 19-14. WIth a few minutes to go to Half Time shouts of “Next Job” focuses the team for the restart. Encouraged on by the crowd amassed along the touchline and balcony, Eccles aim another strike down the right wing. where the Aspull defence are strugglling to cope with the attacking threat. Despite committed tackling Gav stretches to finish with one hand for a Hat-Trick of tries. Eccles are rampant and go into the break with an assured lead. HT 24-14.
The second half continues in much the same style as the first with Aspull struggling to escape their 22. Ruthless back row pressure from Adam Christey and Lee B following a scrum forces a penalty in front of the posts. The Eccles half-backs are alert to the opportunity for quick tap n' go and Washy runs it in under the sticks with 50 minutes played. 31-14. The visitors enjoy decent possession for the next 10 minutes and pull back 3 points through a penalty in the middle of the pitch 31-17 but Eccles reassert their authoriy within a few minutes with a sustained assualt of several phases on the Aspull line and a seris of penalties. The forwards pound away to the left of the posts and Nick Spooner dives across the line in the corner for Eccles' sixth try. 38-17.
In the last 10 minutes the oponants trade blows but the outcome of the match is already decided. Aspull, keen to regain some pride and points from the half put the Eccles defence under pressure for 5 minutes until they find a way through in the corner for a try. 38-22. Eccles respond immeadiatly working an opportunity to release Gav up the right wing, who stretches the weary defence and rounds off an excellent performance of determined finishing, with his fourth try of the afternoon in the corner. 43-22.
There's still time for one more attack - a reprisal of the very first of the game - with Si Don rolling back the years and Tony H driving through the heart of the Aspull lines heading towards the sticks. He's hauled down by a high tackle and the referee awards a penalty, the last play, which the Captain dispatches with ease. Tony is prevented from claiming the glory of a try that his performance richly deserved but he is awarded the Eccles Man of the Match and recieves a bag of stuff from club sponsor D3 tape. The 7-try victory moves Eccles above Anselmians to 5th in the divison with a tally of 200 points scored so far. Next Saturday away to Bolton (who remain unbeaten at home but have lost on the road to Manchester, Anslemians and Winnington Park)
FT 46-22
TEAM
1 James Cunningham, 2 Jack Robbins, 3 Rich Owen, 4 Cammy Higginbottom, 5 Simon Donovan, 6 Nick Spooner, 7 Tony Haunschmidt, 8 Adam Christey. 9 Josh Waring, 10 Sam Long, 11 Gavin Akers Johnson, 12 James Wright, 13 Matt Parkinson, 14 Damola Ayanlaja-lowo, 15 William Parkinson. Replacements 16 Marius Pintilii, 17 Lee Brennand, 18 Sandy Howarth.
