Sat 5 Nov 2022, 14:15
Pre-match expectations for the Counties 2 fixture were for a close game, with Eccles in 2nd place and Ormskirk in 4th pace and both teams enjoying a similar run of good form, and so it proved for the first half with neither side dominating the other for any extended length of time.
Eccles received the ball from the kick off and kept possession well for the opening phases. Within 5 minutes the hosts had established an attacking platform inside Ormskirk territory and maintained the pressure, resulting in an Eccles line out in the left corner with 9 minutes played. The catch and driving maul was well executed by the Eccles forwards but the ball was judged to be held up by the official. The goal line drop out found touch on the right wing, allowing Eccles to keep possession inside the 22 and build another sustained attack. With pods of forwards pounding away at the defensive line in front of the posts, the ball was patiently moved across the pitch until it was floated out wide to Gavin Ackers-Johnson on the left wing who stretched to score but was judged to be just short of the goal line on 12 minutes. Eccles were not to be denied for much longer and from the next line out a Penalty Try was awarded to the left of the uprights. (13’ 7-0).
As the pile of Eccles forwards got to their feet, Adam Christey appearing to be the recipient of the congratulations, Ormskirk were already racing towards the half way line in order to take a quick restart. Eccles celebrations caught them napping to the rapidly unfolding situation and within a few minutes Ormskirk had secured a position a few metres out from which to strike and score in response in the corner. (16’ 7-5).
The arrival of rain began to influence handling for both teams and the flow of the game changed direction several times in a short period. An Ormskirk scrum just outside their 22 provided a notable event when the Fly-Half cleared the ball, booting it high up the field which was cleanly pouched by Fullback Will Parkinson who returned it at pace through the middle to launch another Eccles attack. This venture was short lived as the visitors reclaimed possession and counter attacked, breaking through the Eccles lines with a charge upfield by their marauding second row closely supported by a pair of team mates. This drive was halted by the tackling of flanker Reece Walker but Ormskirk managed to keep possession and their 10 claimed the easy points from the middle of the pitch by slotting home a drop goal to nudge the visitors ahead. (23’ 7-8).
With the wet weather preventing precision passing from finding the wings, the Eccles forwards were heavily involved in close quarter action from the restart, carrying the ball and searching for space. The home pack appeared to be edging the battle with their opponents in the set piece, and a pick and go tactic proved effective in moving Eccles closer to the line and eventually to a try, scored through a bundle of bodies by blindside Javi Manzanares to the left of the uprights; providing Fly-Half Alex Speakman with a straightforward conversion. (30’ 14-8).
The remaining 10 minutes of the half were played in the main in the middle of the field with Eccles enjoying the majority of possession, but often loosing it in advantageous positions with slow arriving support at the breakdown. Eccles finished the first half attacking, composed, but certainly not comfortable in what was an entertaining, competitive match. (HT 14-8).
Eccles did not lose any continuity and came out far quicker than Ormskirk to seize control of the game in what proved to be a crucial 10-minute spell. The blue and white hoops were slicker at the breakdown and found quicker ball than their visitors; although they were limited only to small gains by a well-drilled Ormskirk defence the attacking momentum was with Eccles as the ball was moved from coast to coast in search of space. Fresh legs and brilliantly clean shirts were introduced from the bench into the Eccles pack. An Ormskirk player was shown a yellow for a high tackle and Eccles looked to capitalise with a kick to the right corner below the balcony. The line out catch and maul was well executed and ultimately resulted in a try scored by replacement hooker Fin Cox; Conversion narrowly missing the right post. (50’ 19-8).
The rain turned to a heavy downpour. An off the ball incident on 51 minutes lead to a Yellow card for Frosty but nothing for the retaliating Ormskirk player. The teams were now numerically matched for a short period until 59 minutes when a second Yellow was shown to Ormskirk, when the ball was knocked out of Gav’s hands as he looked certain to score in the top corner. Eccles remained attacking with force and with numbers inside the 22 but were unable to find a way to cross the line. A penalty awarded to Ormskirk at the half way line appeared to offer the visitors a prime opportunity to release the pressure and kick deep to touch but instead they opted for the ambitious kick on goal, which was missed. With the ball once again in their hands, Eccles were finding space for their backs on the fringes. A quick breaking attack on the right saw Alex Speakman execute a perfect 50:22 with the ball bouncing into touch 15m from the goal line. The referee awarded the throw at the line out to Ormskirk, however Eccles were not to be denied the opportunity of points and by applying pressure they forced a defensive error, with the ball dropped a metre from the line allowing the prowling Reece Walker to punk on it and slide over for the try; converted by Alex Speakman (65’ 26-8).
For the next 10 minutes, Eccles were in the ascendancy and continued playing with good fluidity in the opposition half but were guilty of squandering good opportunities; loosing the ball in thier own line out or unnecessarily kicking away possession when bearing down on the goal line. A well judged chip to the corner by Speakman looked certain to result in a try for Gav but a defender kicked the ball dead before the winger could ground it in the in-goal. With a certain amount of frustration Eccles came away from a period of sustained pressure without any points and in defensive disarray, a yellow card was shown to Walker on 71 minutes leaving Eccles disadvantaged for the final stages of the game, which had gone messy and chaotic. The rain was heavy and the visitor's perseverance paid off with their prop crashing through from close range to reduce the deficit with a try to the left of the sticks. (75’ 26-13).
For the final 5 minutes Eccles had the ball inside the Ormskirk half and used forwards pistons in attempt to keep controlled possession as the clock ticked down. This was an effective tactic until the ball was turned over by Ormskirk and the visitors attempted to launch a last attack on their right flank which faltered and winning back possession the ball was kicked to touch to end the match, which had begun as a good contest with good rugby but had become a bit scruffy as the weather deteriorated during the second half. Still, a win is a win. A good performance in the conditions, in particular from the young homegrown forwards and fly half. (FT 26-13)
13’ 7-0 PENALTY TRY ECCLES (Adam Christey)
16’ 7-5 TRY ORMSKIRK
23’ 7-8 DROP GOAL ORMSKIRK
30’ 14-8 TRY ECCLES (Javi Manzanares) converted (Alex Speakman)
HT’ 14-8
48’ Yellow Ormskirk
50’ 19-8 TRY ECCLES ( Fin Cox)
51’ Yellow Eccles (Andrew Frost)
59’ Yellow Ormskirk
65’ 26-8 TRY ECCLES (Reece Walker) converted (Alex Speakman)
71’ Yellow Eccles (Reece Walker)
75’ 26-13 TRY ORMSKIRK
FT’ 26-13
