Eccles RFC

The game got off to an electric start with both teams capitalising on their first attacking opportunities. Incredibly, with only 4 minutes played the score stood at 7-7, Gavin Ackers Johnson having opened his account for the afternoon almost straight form the kick off. When the visitors equalised from the restart Eccles were quick to react and within 8 minutes a penalty in midfield resulted in a line out in the corner, efficiently executed by the pack who drove over the line with captain Tom Coe scoring the try to put Eccles ahead again. The Conversation missed, just dropping below the bar 12-7.  This advantage was short lived however as Littleborough themselves took full advantage when an Eccles attack was careless with possession on the halfway line and the visitors were able to immediately counter attack with a deft offload inside to put the supporting flanker in for a score beside the posts; converted by Alex Speakman 12-14. 

The end to end freneticism of the opening 20 minutes subsided following the restart and Eccles dominated the next 20 mins of play with all the attacking now in one direction. A penalty on 22 minutes inside the 22 resulted in a line out in the same corner and once again a clean catch and drive saw the Eccles forwards overpower the Littleborough defence , this time Coe darting undetected up the blindside to score his second try in the corner; converted by Speakman. 19-14. 

Approaching the interval, the visitors attempted to respond but lost possession of the ball in Eccles territory. Playing out from the back, a fortuitous event close to to the left touchline allowed Eccles to break out of defence with neat inter-passing between fullback Will Parkinson and winger Gav, who raced upfield unapossed to score between the uprights to further extend the lead. 

HT 26-14.

The halftime break provided the opportunity for Eccles to introduce replacements and back row Riley Thornton and centre Rayden Brice were switched with Henry Booth and George Tyson respectively. The game restarted and Eccles took some time to return to the expansive play that had served them well during the first half. It was not until the 52nd minute that Tyson was given the service he needed to show what he could provide, exploding through the Littleborough defence on the halfway line he accelerated away from the grasping hands and powered towards the goal line with the balcony roaring him on. As the opposition fullback tackled him 10m short of glory, he offloaded a perfect 15m pass to the supporting winger on his left and Gavin Ackers Johnson was delighted to stroll in his third of the afternoon. Converted by Alex Speakman. 33-14.

Tyson was eager to be involved in the action and was unfortunate to be sent to the bin for an infringement in a breakdown on 65 mins. As he left the field, Fin Cox entered it, replacing  Tom Coe at Hooker. The last third of the game continued to played mostly in the Littleborough half with the visitors loosing a player to a red card for striking an Eccles player who was on the floor in a ruck. Eccles continued their attack with a penalty kick to the corner, and the resulting blue and white drive carried the ball over the line, but was judged to be held up.  The goal line drop out took play to the halflway line but the ball was cleanly collected and excellent passing rugby across the back line by Sam Long and Tim Balogun took play rapidly back into the visitor’s 22. From here Gav surged infield from the wing and looked certain to score before a solid tackle halted his progress in front of the uprights …at this point the world appeared to go into slow motion as Fin Cox picked up possession of the ball and charged towards the posts, scoring the 6th Eccles try, to the jubilation of his team mates. 75’ 40-14.

There was enough time for Littleborough to respond and from the restart the visitors held onto possession and eventually scored to the side of the posts, as the last play, which was converted.

FT 40-21

04’ TRY LITTLEBOROUGH 7-7

8’ TRY ECCLES (Tom Coe) 12-7 

16’ TRYLITTLEBOROUGH 12-14 

22’ TRY ECCLES (Tom Coe) Conv (Speakman) 19-14

38’ TRY ECCLES (Gavin Ackers-Johnson) Conv (Alex Speakman) 26-14

52’ TRY ECCLES (Gavin Ackers-Johnson) Conv (Alex Speakman) 33-14