Sun 6 Oct 2019, 14:00
NW Colts League Senior D
REPORT
As consistent as conkers, the commencement of autumn each year sees the club’s Colts endure a punishing start to their season with a run of defeats before they emerge, galvanised by the experience, with new confidence, commitment and conviction to compete and play great rugby.
The reasons for this annual masochistic character-building phenomenen at Eccles are shrouded in the mystery of a teenage lad's sock draw. Maybe it’s the disruption of players missing at Rugby League, or unfamiliar team mates needing time to bond. Who knows? Last season’s Senior Colts were no exception. They too suffered the traditional painful start to their campaign with 5 defeats before digging deep to find what it took to beat Preston Grasshoppers in an outstanding performance mid-October and go on a run of a dozen victories thereafter to claim a League and County Plate double.
Well, the 2019/20 Senior Colts appear to have begun their transition earlier and may yet prove they have what it takes to become a great colts team. The signs of courage and tenacity have certainly been apparent in the opening fixtures where Eccles have battled to the very end with a bare 15 or 14 against a strong opposition, applying tremendous pressure at times and never loosing heart despite not getting the breaks. But 3 games and 3 losses does not tell you anything of this team and anyone who had the privilege to be at Bury on Sunday afternoon will tell you that they witnessed something special.
A travelling team of 14 Eccles Colts against a confident Bury squad of 19 looked like a tall order at the start. The home team were fired up and vocal right from the kick off. Within 2 minutes a hesitant Eccles were on the ropes and before they had a hand on the ball, Bury had scored their first Try. 7-0. Eccles responded from the restart and for 15 minutes the 14 lads in navy hoops competed, working hard to gain a foothold in the midfield game and enjoying more possession. As Eccles began to push Bury back into their territory the home team found good fortune with a high clearance kick that was caught on the bounce by the fullback to run the ball in under the posts unopposed. 14-0. More heartbreak was to follow. For the next 10 minutes Eccles exerted impressive pressure in the hosts 22 with an outstanding period of determined play that pinned them to their 5m line for a dozen phases or more. The colts moved the point of attack rapidly and with purpose but lacked the commitment and numbers at the breakdown and carelessness of the ball cost them, offering Bury an escape, who promptly scored up the other end. 21-0. Many teams at this point would resign themselves to defeat. Eccles however, showing great character and defiance, attacked once again and a strong drive through midfield from second row Ryley sees him earn Eccles a Try on 30 minutes. A great response followed from Bury who pounded Eccles for 5 minutes, with their big forwards queuing up to bomb our line and secured their 4th try to the side of the posts as the last play of the half. (28-7 HT.)
This committed assault from the opposition was the perfect example and motivation for the Eccles Colts who flew out of the traps for the second half. Within 2 minutes Eccles had a try through a powerful charge from centre Dan Delaney. 28-14. For 15 minutes there was no change in score but Eccles continued to play some GREAT rugby, with long periods of possession and attacking pressure in the Bury 22. The home team, unable to escape their half, defended their lead resolutely. On 51 minutes Eccles Fullback Tallis sliced through the bodies with a knife sharp line of running to score a great try. Eccles were right back in it. 28-21. For 15 minutes the 14 lads of Eccles hold their nerve and their ground with some promising signs of leadership as the tension increases and Bury attempt to find a way through midfield. Cameron’s positioning and catching is solid under the high balls. Antony is a revelation at Hooker. Peter, Kai, Ollie, James, Jay and John are tireless in their work rate. Dan, Tom and Joe put a big shift in with the tackles. Eccles, who have endured long periods of defending in their previous games soak it up and both teams show excellent discipline.
The opportunity for a strike presents itself when number 8 Jay Christey breaks through the half way line on a lung-busting locomotive charge towards the posts, tackled, he pops the ball up to supporting Ryley and the exhausted Eccles forwards empty the tanks to secure the ball and mount a sustained final attack. With 5 minutes on the clock Eccles have Bury inside their 22 and on the ropes. It's an exciting, frenetic end to the game as every player on the pitch puts it on the line. Joe Molloy, whose range of passing and kicking has been instrumental in the Eccles second-half offensive, executes a great nudge into the in-goal area. The loose ball bobbles in slow motion towards the dead-ball line as Flanker Max Mulligan is faster than the defenders to claim Eccles 4th Try in the corner. The drama is not yet complete. Man of the Match and Captain Joe steps up to cooly convert it from a tight angle. 28-28! FT. Scenes.
What a fight back. The character, belief and the commitment of every one of the colts showed just everything that is good about rugby. Teamwork, respect, enjoyment and discipline only partly tell the story. Endurance, determination, overcoming the odds, triumph over adversity, more accurately reflect what the team achieved.
The performance was perfectly summed up by Martin Parkinson “Yesterday was a gloomy day with both Senior Teams losing. Today my heart has been lifted with the performance of 14 lads giving their all and refusing to be subdued. A touchline full of proud parents and quite rightly so. Absolute top performance and to misquote the bard ‘those who had feeble excuses will feel themselves small for not being there’. This is what it means to be Eccles."
If you know someone who want to be part of this story, please invite them down. We have much to be proud of and this isn’t simply explained by win or loss.
HIGHLIGHTS
02’ 7-0 TRY Bury; converted
16’ 14-0 TRY Bury; converted
28’ 21-0 TRY Bury; converted
30’ 21-7 TRY Eccles (Ryley); converted (Joe)
35’ 28-7 TRY Bury; converted
HT 28-7
37’ 28-14 TRY Eccles (Dan); converted (Joe)
51’ 28-21 TRY Eccles (Tallis); converted (Joe)
66’ 28-28 TRY Eccles (Max); converted (Joe)
FT 28-28
TEAM
1 John, 2 Antony, 3 James, 4 Ryley, 5 Peter, 6 Kai, 7 Max, 8 Jay, 9 Tom, 10 Joe, 11 Cameron, 12 Dan, 13 Ollie, 14 Tallis
FORM
L L L D
