HIGHLIGHTS
09’ 0-5 TRY ECCLES (11 W Parkinson) .
13’ 5-5 TRY FLEETWOOD (2 C Jones)
17’ 5-12 TRY ECCLES (14 G Ackers-Johnson)
34’ 5-15 PEN ECCLES (9 J Wright)
HT 5-15
42’ 5-22 TRY ECCLES (10 H Candland)
48’ 12-22 TRY FLEETWOOD (3 R Newton)
51’ 15-22 FLEETWOOD PEN (10 T Evans)
55’ 15-27 TRY ECCLES (2 T Coe)
65’ 20-27 TRY FLEETWOOD (15 C Clapp)
70’ 20-32 TRY ECCLES (16 T Balogun)
75’ 25-32 TRY FLEETWOOD (9 J Harrison)
80’ 32-32 TRY FLEETWOOD ( 6 J Brocklehurst)
FT 32-32
REPORT
Eccles headed to a bright and breezy Fleetwood on Saturday looking to improve on the 11-11 draw at Gorton Street last December where the opponents had slugged it out in heavy rain, with Eccles left regretting their squandered chances as a resilient Fleetwood snatched a share of points with a late penalty.
On arrival, the hosts welcomed the Eccles travelling contingent to Melbourne Avenue with marvellous pre-match hospitality (the best chips are always at the seaside right?) and as the teams warmed up in the spring sunshine, with a fresh wind blowing in from the Fylde coast, a very different contest was anticipated.
For the opening minutes of the game play did not progress far from the halfway line. Fleetwood enjoyed the early possession, but Eccles looked to be comfortable in their defensive work and soaked up the initial artillery from the Fleetwood forwards. When the opportunity came to take possession and break up field, Eccles were quick to do so. A penalty awarded just outside the Fleetwood 22 for holding on, was swiftly taken by Chris Fortune who seized the chance to catch Fleetwood napping, his pass to the equally alert James Wright, playing at scrum half, set in motion a rapid attack, finding Will Parkinson on the left wing who slid in at the corner for the opening score on 9 minutes. Just reward for the preceptive Eccles backs who were eager to play on the front foot. 0-5.
Fleetwood were determined to respond straight from the restart and enthusiastic effort from their pack saw their Hooker crash over the line on the left to equal the score on 13 mins. The strong wind was proving a problem for the kicking of both teams and the conversion was missed. 5-5. Eccles did not take long to respond themselves. On 17 mins a break out of defence from Rory McGrath on the moved play into the midfield, where quick work from Wright and Aspinall in the centre kept the momentum and set Gav free on the right wing, who shrugged off tackles and swept around the fullback on the outside to run it in behind the posts; converted. 5-12. Playing at pace, Eccles continued to apply sustained attacking pressure on Fleetwood. On 34 mins, a series of line outs on the right inside the 22, with Zak Brooker providing dependable hands in the air, resulted in an Eccles penalty (coming in at the side) in front of the sticks, which was calmly dispatched by James Wright. 5-15.
Once again Fleetwood looked to reduce the deficit taking the game into Eccles territory. With a few minutes to the break, a head injury to Javi Manzanres halted play on the edge of Eccles 22. Following the Fleetwood scrum Javi ripped possession from the attack and Chris Fortune was on hand to kick to touch to bring the first half to a close. Though Eccles had earned a decent lead through speed and better precision in attack, it was a close competitive contest, and with the wind and a bigger pack behind them in the second period, a strong fight back from the home team was expected. HT 5-15.
Eccles however made the better restart, wining a penalty (not releasing) in their own half and a quick reaction once again from Wright and Fortune, released Gav on the right wing who swerved in and out to evade his challengers before offloading inside to the supporting Fly Half Harry Candland who steamed in under the sticks for a third Eccles Try; converted. 5-22. The 17-point cushion appeared to make Eccles complacement which was to be costly. A penalty inside the 22 gave Fleetwood a platform for thier tighthead prop to crash over to side of the posts. 12-22. A few minutes later Eccles were caught playing in the wrong areas and gifted an easy penalty in centre field. 15-22.
A response was required. At 55 mins an Eccles break on the right and quick support resulted in defensive chaos inside the Fleetwood 22. From the penalty, Eccles kicked to the corner for the line out and the forwards executed an unstoppable driving maul in the corner for Hooker Tom Coe to claim the try. 15-27. Undeterred, Fleetwood forwards piled on the pressure and the Eccles defence appeared to be coping well until a long pass out wide left found the fullback who dived in at the corner. 20-27. With Fleetwood pressing for late points, a terrific jackal and turnover from Dan Aspinall regained possession and provided the opportunity for Eccles to regroup. Quick work from backs' created an opening on the left and Tim Bologun, receiving the ball inside his own 22, weaved through the feild before opening up the gas to speed away into the open Fleetwood half to score a glorious try. The conversation kick into a strong head wind didn't make the target, but surely a 12-point cushion with 10 minutes to play would be enough, wouldn’t it? 20-32.
The Fleetwood forwards pounded away and at 75 mins their scrum half sniped around the ruck to breach the Eccles line and score the left of the sticks; the conversion hitting the post. 25-32. From the restart Eccles lost possession in midfield, the ball was knocked away and the penalty and 10m march back put Fleetwood within striking distance. The hosts kicked to the corner and from the line out the inevitable driving maul trucked over the line with the number 6 scoring at the death. 30-32. The conversion missed its target, but the referee insisted it was retaken because the charge down was not silent. The next kick was successful and remarkably the match ended in draw. Last play. Incredible. FT 32-32.
Ten Tries. Two very different styles of play. Honours even. An entertaining, enjoyable game to watch. Eccles may not have come home with all the points but the club chairman did return with a massive box of meat, having pulled out his own ticket out of the post match prize draw! Almost as a controversial as the final score.
