Sat 4 Dec 2021, 14:15
SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER
1XV
Eccles 13-10 Oldham
It’s remarkable, considering we're in December, that Oldham's visit on Saturday marked just the third home fixture of the 1XV League campaign so far. With Eccles in 9th place and the visitors in 7th just 2 points apart, the game promised to be a close contest with a victory offering the opportunity of a move up the ADM Premier table.
The game kicked off in cold, wet, windy conditions which deteriorated to become truly miserable, with driving rain making footing and handling difficult. The visitors were the first to show early attacking intent with a scrum penalty inside the 22 but pressure from the Eccles defence forced a knock on and the ball was moved upfield, where it remained inside Oldham territory for the next 10 minutes. Eccles were making hard yards but when possession was lost, back to back dropped high balls put Eccles under pressure back on their goal line. At 14 minutes, an Oldham scrum 5m out was initially well defended but ultimately the opening try came out on the right. (0-5).
Eccles responded to this set back and retained the ball for about 5 minutes, without successfully breaking through the Oldham line to launch an attack. At 21 mins the game was stopped for leg injury to Will Hammer who left the field. The resulting penalty lead to a line out inside the Oldham 22, following which the Referee spoke with both captains regarding the number of penalties being committed. The game continued to stay inside the Oldham half although without progress towards points. At 29 mins, after pounding away, Eccles opted to kick for points and a wonderful strike in the wind from the boot of Alex Speakman put Eccles on the board. (3-5). With 36 mins on the clock, and in a strong wind, the young Homegrown fly-half stepped up again, to kick straight through the sticks from the halfway line! Wow. The shivering spectators roared their delight. (6-5). Eccles completed the half attacking and a line out inside the 22 gave the hosts a perfect platform to extend their narrow lead going into the break but the ball was overthrown and the opportunity was squandered. HT 6-5.
The second half kicked off with Eccles playing into a strong wind with an increasingly slippy ball and poor visibility in heavy rain. The 10 mins following the restart was played inside the Oldham half, with the visitors kicking the ball long to escape and the Parkinson brothers returning it with interest. Eccles were gradually moving closer to a striking position and on 54 minutes centre Tom Dutton broke through to score a try to the side of the posts; converted by Speakman. (13-5).
The weather worsened, the game degenerated into a wrestle, discipline declined. Oldham had a man sent to the bin. Eccles had the visitors pined inside their 22 but despite several penalties and line outs in the corner, were unable to turn this attacking pressure into points. With 8 minutes remaining on the clock Eccles elected to kick their next penalty into the wind, towards the sticks. The ball hit the right hand post, was caught by an Oldham player and somehow the visitors were off the ropes and heading upfield. With 5 minutes remaining, from a ruck in a central position in the middle of the pitch, Oldham kicked the ball deep towards space in the left corner and the chase resulted in a try. (13-10).
The final 5 minutes might have been an edge of your seat finish, but Eccles successfully regained possession from the restart and kept the game inside Oldham territory, where the majority of the second half had been played, and the last word, or rather kick, fittingly went to Alex Speakman who struck the ball calmly into touch to end the match. Despite the weather, Eccles gave an energetic display to grind out the win, against a dogged Oldham outfit. FT 13-10
Report - CG
