Sat 7 Dec 2019
REPORT
Having began the season with a run of good results, October and November have seen a collapse in form for Eccles, with defeats to De La Salle, Leigh, Bolton, Manchester and Glossop. Our visit to top of the table Rochdale, unbeaten in 11 games, on a gloomy wet and blustery winter afternoon did not bode well. However, against the odds, Eccles competed well for long periods against their opponants and put in a decent performance, despite numerical disadvantage.
Dale began strong with all guns blazing from the whistle. Eccles knocked on at the kick off and suffered a series of scrum penalties inside their 22. A Dale back broke from deep and, evading two tackles, offloads to the Fly Half in the wide open centre chanel to score the opening try with 6 minutes played. 7-0.
For the next 20 minutes the game continues to be played mostly in Eccles' half with Dale dominating possession. Knock ons are a feature for both teams. Eccles regualrly drive the home pack back in the scrum and defend with resilience for long periods but struggle to keep hold of the ball for long enough to launch any kind of counter attack. A great opportnity to break on the right wing through Fullback Cammy and Winger Gav is halted with a good tackle on the half way and the move is squandered with a forward pass. Play returns to the Eccles 22, another scrum on the 5m and Dale crash through to score to the side of the posts with an easy kick for the extras. 14-0.
With 30 minutes played Rochdale appear to be in control. However, a series of penalties see Eccles exert pressure on the Dale 22 and an offense following a scrum gives Eccles a penalty in front of the posts, kicked by Chris Fortune. 14-3.
Eccles continue to put Dale under pressure for the next 10 mins. A high tackle penalty is awarded and the Captain puts the kick into the 22, where some desperate Dale defending at the line out keeps Eccles from scoring. Rochdale battle their way out of their half and are awarded a penalty for 'not releasing' in midfield, an opportunity for easy points they take as the last play of the half. 17-3.
HT 17-3.
Within the opening minutes of the second half, Simon Donovan steps over a midfield ruck, a move the match official considers to be 'reckless', worthy of a red card, and sends the second row from the field. Claims of 'stamping' baffle this reporter.
Minutes later a scrum collapses, a fight is sparked and a Rochdale player is shown red, and Eccles prop James Cunningham (who retaliates) is also dismissed! With less than 10 minutes of the half played, the game has not moved from the half way line and Eccles are down to 13 men and Dale down to 14! Eccles respond to the referee's decisions better than Rochdale and it is Eccles who go on to dominate the second half with better discipline and greater ball possession than the hosts. In a reversal of the first half, the game is now played enitrely inside the Dale 22.
Eccles are presented with an opportunity of points following another high tackle, 20m in front of the posts but the kick is missed, letting Dale off the hook. Eccles continue to apply pressure. Dale are regularly walked back by the official, although he's reluctant to get his cards out again for this ill-discipline and there are lots of 'last warnings'. The floodlights are on. At the next penalty Eccles elect to tap and pistons, battling to within 5m of the Dale posts only for determined tackling to stop the score. Eccles win another penalty, this time the ball strikes the post but is knocked on by a dale defender. From the resulting scrum 6m out, Eccles break, centre Chris Fortune charges through and is tackled just short of the line, the forwards pile in and the try is scored amongst a pile of bodies by Luke Cullen, to the side of the posts. Fortune converts this one. 17-10.
With a few minutes remaining, the restart gives Rochdale their first second half taste of the Eccles half. Christey suffers a head injury in a tackle and is replaced by Swain. A Dale penalty provides the opportunity to put a kick to the corner and from the (questionable) line out throw they score in the corner, late in the game, to deny Eccles a bonus point. 22-10.
There is still time to issue Dale a yellow card (13 v 13) but it's too late to make a difference. Eccles make a gallant last effort to score down the left wing but Chris Fortune is halted at 6m through more determined defending. The match ends with the ball inside the Dale 22 where it's been for most of the second period.
FT 22-10.
Another away defeat but lots of positives to take from this. The final scoreline does not do justice to the gutsy, determined Eccles performance where we played the entire second half with one less player than Rochdale and pushed them back at most scrums. Greater accuracy and taking points when they're on a plate is the gap between Eccles and the top of the table. Three red cards and a yellow paints a picture of an agressive blood bath of a contest, which it was not. Our thanks to our hosts Rochdale who were most generous and welcoming with thier pre-match hospitality.
Cunningham and Donovan have both recieved 3 week suspensions.
HIGHLIGHTS
06 | 7-0 TRY ROCHDALE
28 | 14-0 TRY ROCHDALE
32 | 14-3 PENALTY ECCLES (Chris Fortune)
40 | 17-3 PENALTY ROCHDALE
HT 17-3
45 | RED ECCLES (Simon Donvan)
50 | RED ROCHDALE and RED ECCLES (James Cunningham)
72 | 17-10 TRY ECCLES (Luke Cullen) Conv (Chris Fortune)
76 | 22-10 TRY ROCHDALE
78 | YELLOW ROCHDALE
FT 22-10
