Sat 9 Apr 2022, 14:15
With the benefit of hindsight, it could be said the 22-24 win away at Ormskirk on the opening day last September, featuring a youthful Eccles team with 4 former colts making their senior debuts, set the tone for the rest of the season, with an often inexperienced 1XV struggling to find consistency in both line up and performance. As with other fixtures this season Eccles had earned themselves a comfortable lead in that game, only for lapses in concentration and individual errors to hand advantage back to the opposition, with a late try and conversation from Lancs U20 Dan Reed eventually securing the victory. And so, as the teams trotted out on to a sunny but cold and windy Gorton Street pitch, the outcome of this return fixture was far from certain.
At 15’ an Ormskirk line out on the right lead to a sustained attack inside the Eccles 22. The Eccles defence reamined resolute in the centre, and after a number of phases and a line out on left to the visitors, Eccles eventually turnovered possession and the backs broke quickly only for the final pass to fail a promising attack. Undeterred, possession was regained and once inside the Ormskirk half Wright and Fortune combined to unlock the defence but once again the final killer pass was fumbled. The strong Eccles scrum was able to drive Ormskirk off their ball and a break on the right was sparked with young Back Row Ryley Thornton driving forward and offloading in the tackle but the final pass again is dropped. Eccles were applying good pressure inside the Ormskirk 22 as they searched for the points to break the deadlock, but the handling errors in the opening 20 minutes were a source of frustration for both players and spectators as opportunities were wasted. An attmept by Ormskirk to exit through a high kick was cleanly collected by Harry Candland on the left, who burst forward and offloaded to Gav on the wing who opted for the kick and chase and there was only one winner to the bouncing ball in the corner. 23’ 5-0 TRY ECCLES (G Ackers-Johnson).
From the restart Ormskirk were alert to a sleepy Eccles defence and broke through the middle. A desperate tackle from openside Thornton halted the attack but an infringement at the ruck gave Ormskirk a straightforward penalty in front of the sticks. The strong wind came to the assistance of the home team as the kick was missed. The windy conditions continued to have an influence on play with Eccles taking the game to Ormskirk but handling preventing their advancement. A well executed chip kick over the top of the visitor's defence line from the captain, appeared to have put winger Tim Balogun in for a glorious try but the ball was dropped.
At 32’ the Eccles pack, who appeared to be well on top in the set piece, waste their dominance with unnecessary ball juggling at the back of the scum resulting in a chaotic collapse, Lee Brennand leaving the field with an injured shoulder and Hooker Tom Coe yellow carded and sent to the bin! Despite the loss of these players Eccles continued attacking and applying sustained pressure. Lock Gaz Conlon was having a good game regularly supporting ball carriers or breaking the line himself. A foot in touch by Neil Williams prevented him scoring in the right corner by the flag. As the clock ticked down to the break Eccles increased the urgency of their play. Winger TimBo shrugged off a big hit, got back to his feet and chasing after a promising chip kick from Tim Cullen to the same corner, contested for the ball and scooted in to score a tenacious try just before half time. 40’ 10-0 TRY ECCLES (T Balogun)
HT 10-0
Was this to be Déjà vu? Following the restart, the Eccles men reassured the supporters by dominating possession and territory to prevent an early Ormskirk response. Once back to 15 players, Eccles gathered momentum attacking the West End. Fullback Rory McGrath broke on the left setting up a promising platform, the Captain was quick to the breakdown and set off in search of support across the field. A penalty for high tackle is awarded inside the 22, and a quality pass from Fly Half Harry Candland, found Super Gav driving in on a hard line through the defence to reach and score between the sticks. 54’ 17-0 TRY ECCLES (G Ackers-Johnson); converted.
By 60 minutes the injury count had mounted up for both teams and the replacement benches were emptied. Eccles work rate succeeded in keeping the game inside the visitor's half. At 62’ a great line break and interchange between the Eccles front row pair launched another attack. Ormskirk regained possession and an excellent 50-22 kick, found touch deep inside Eccles territory to ease the pressure. Eccles extinguised the threat and passed their way out of defence.
In the last 10 minutes, Ormskirk tired and the hosts looked to exploit the increasing space they were finding. An exciting break generated between Fortune and Wright took Eccles to the edge of the visitor’s 22. Ormskirk won a penalty at the breakdown, but Tom Coe pouched the high kick and with accurate and swift passing across the pitch, Tim B backed himself to fire through the gap to score his second. 71’ 24-0 TRY ECCLES (T Balogun); Converted.
Eccles now had their tails up and it was champagne rugby as Lock Zak Brooker and Hooker Tom Coe bust up the left wing with wonderful inter-passing between them to set the platform for slick backs passing across the pitch to the right wing, where Gav stepped inside and applied the gas to score his third. 74’ 31-0 TRY ECCLES (G Ackers-Johnson).
Ormskirk rallied and a minute from time the visitors scored a well deserved consolation try. It had taken all season but at last Eccles delivered an 80-minute performance, starting with conviction, securing the victory early in the second half and pusing on to claim the try bonus point with a strong finish.
FT 31-7
Final tally for the 1XV in the ADM Premier - Played 22, 8 Wins, 2 Draws, 12 Losses (at least 5 of those being close defeats) PF 327 PA 450
