Eccles RFC

With quarter of an hour played a collapsed scrum resulted in a worrying neck injury to the TMV Hooker, who remained prone on the floor for 10 or so minutes as both physios attended to him. The player was eventually helped to his feet to leave the field and we wish him a speedy and full recovery.  

Eccles responded to this disruption in play better than the hosts and were quick to mount an attack. From the restart scrum in a midfield left position, the ball was swept right, Rayden Brice smashed through the middle and Gavin Ackers Johnson was released to race in from the wing to give Eccles the lead again, dotting down behind the posts for an easy conversion. 10-14.  

However, Eccles poor discipline was keeping TMV in the game and within a few minutes another penalty was kicked to reduce the deficit.13-14. The rain was now influencing handling for both teams and the game was halted again for an ankle injury to Coey. On 24 minutes a sloppy line out from Eccles led to a Trafford charge down and the calamitous kick and chase resulted in a score in the corner to put MV ahead.18-14.

Once again Eccles reacted immediately to the set back and were able to build pressure in the TMV 22, forcing a defensive knock on and scrum, from which JW faked right and then went left to find Gav on the wing who weaved through the defenders to score a converted try on 28 minutes. 18-21. It was an end to end ping pong game. Within minutes of every restart came another score! Sure enough, straight from the kick off, another TMV line out in the corner resulted in another drive and converted try, with another TMV penalty making the score 26-21. From the restart terrific hunting from Gav pinned the TMV winger holding n to the ball 10m from his goal line. This resulted in a line out for Eccles in the corner which was caught cleanly but the maul was pushed into touch and the half was brought to an end. The game was in the balance and Eccles were creating many of their own problems with a high penalty count.

HT 25-21  

Eccles began the second half in much the same way they had concluded the first half, giving away another penalty within the opening minutes of play. 29-21. However it would only be 5 minutes before Gav, once again tore through the defenders to run in his third try from the wing and touch down between the sticks, giving JW a straight forward conversion to take Eccles within a point on 44 minutes. 29-28. Could Eccles keep TMV out at the restart? No. Within 5 minutes the opposition fly-half broke through the line on 49 minutes to score a fine try for the hosts.34-28. 

The last 10 minutes of the game was exciting and in truth the result could have gone either way. Yet another penalty conceded by Eccles in the middle of the pitch could have clinched it for TMV when they nudged ahead ahead 37-35 with 6 minutes to go but Eccles showed good spirit to fight back. With 3 minutes to go, from a scrum on the left, centre Jack Flanagan roared through the defensive lines carrying both ball and Trafford players to within 10m of the posts, the ball was quickly recycled out to the right flank where Fullback Will Parkinson was tackled 5m short of the line but the rapidly arriving back row cavalry in the form of 8 Adam Christey ensured attacking momentum and 7 Reece Walker assisted by winger Tim Balogun powered the ball over the line by the right corner flag amongst a pile of bodies. Euphoria! 37-40. Eccles were not done. With 1 minute on the clock Will Parky broke free up the left wing and this time was unstoppable, sliding across the line to score the final try of the game and claim the victory. 37-45. 

A great end to the match and scenes of jubilation at least for Eccles. TMV worked hard through the whole game, their pack put a big shift in to keep it a close contest but struggled to deal with Eccles out wide. A home fixture versus Liverpool Collegiate is next up. Defending from restarts and the penalty count will surely be on the agenda at Gorton Street training this week.

FT 37-45