Sat 28 Jan 2023, 14:15
04’ 0-7 | Oldham made a bright start, attacking straight from the kick off to put the Ecces defence under pressure. Eccles soaked up the pounding inside their 22 and turned over possession only to kick it away, directly into the hands of the Oldham fullback who returned the ball back into Eccles territory. The sustained pressure was eventually turned into points with a try scored in the right corner and converted with a well aimed kick.
10’ 0-10 | With just 10 minutes played Eccles found themselves further in arrears when their inability to keep the ball whilst attacking resulted in an Oldham scrum midfield. From here the opposition charged directly into the centre of the Eccles defence, where a penalty was awarded at the tackle and Oldham successfully kicked to goal from 30m out to increase their early lead.
12’ | Eccles responded to this set back with a positive restart. Will Parkinson, playing with assured confidence at fullback weaved through the field before he was felled. The Oldham 11 was shown a Yellow card for his actions and Eccles continued their attack, probing for a gap on the edge of the visitor’s 22. Within 3 minutes Oldham were down to 13 men, when the number 8 was also shown yellow and sent to the bin.
17’ 5-10 | With the pressure building, Oldham were forced to defend ferociously and aimed an exit kick upfield into Eccles territory. Will Parky collected the ball, beat the first tackler and offloaded to winger Tim Balogun, whose speed and guile made good yards up the right flank before he returned the pass to put the supporting fullback in for a great finish in the corner. TRY (Will Parkinson).
21’ 12-10 | Eccles, now playing with confidence and composure, retained possession from the restart and set about mounting another attack with James Wright at 9, spraying the ball quickly and accurately across the field. Eccles were showing excellent expansive play, coast to coast, and good handling released second row Zak Brooker on the right, breaking through the line and offloading to TB on the wing, who evaded the first tackler and then stepped on the gas to speed in and score. TRY (Tim Balogun). Conv (Alex Speakman).
29’ 15-10 | Ill discipline continued to cost Oldham and Eccles took full advantage a few minutes later when they were awarded a penalty directly in front of the sticks, giving Alex Speakman a straight forward opportunity to kick further ahead, a short lived situation when on 33’ an Oldham penalty for a ruck infringement 35m out returned the game to a 3-point margin. Following the restart Eccles collected the ball and were awarded yet another penalty inside the Oldham 22. The easy kickable points are declined in favour of going to the corner, a decision that was probably regretted by Eccles as the game approached the interval, when they lost possession and the ball was kicked deep by the visitors back into the Eccles half to release the pressure.
HT 15-13.
45’ 22-13 | Eccles started the second half positively and set about launching a sustained attack into the Oldham 22. Accurate passing across the pitch released 18-year old homegrown Centre Louis, and his direct, powerful charge resulted in a terrific try to the right of the posts for the former colt making his first team debut. TRY ( Louis Lord) Converted (Alex Speakman).
Oldham attempted to respond from the restart but the game was stopped inside the Eccles 22 for a leg injury to 2nd Row Andrew Frost sustained whilst defending the goal line, who left the field on a stretcher. The Eccles defence remained unbreached and the visitor’s attempted try from a 10m scrum was held up.
60’ 27-13 |Eccles were held into their own half for 10 minutes and the contest became a bit of a midfield wrestle until the hour mark when dynamic running and expansive passing from James Wright injected pace into an Eccles breakout. A slick interchange between 9, 10 and 15 on the right flank resulted in score in the corner for the fullback. TRY (Will Parkinson)
63’ 34-13 | Straight from the restart Eccles launched another attack with Gavin Ackers-Johnson breaking through the lines on the left before weaving infield. More snappy passing put the 2nd Row Zak into space on the right who burst through the tiring Oldham defence to score on the right. TRY (Zak Brooker) Conv (Alex Speakman).
The visitors to Gorton Street went on to claim a late try but it made no change to the result. Eccles finished the game attacking with with plenty of ambition shown by the young team who are unfortunate not to get another try against the physical Oldham outfit before the whistle. The 5-try Bonus point was just enough to take Eccles back to the top of Counties 2.
FT 34-18
HIGHLIGHTS
Eccles v Oldham
17’ 5-10 | Eccles try (Will Parky)
21’ 12-10 | Eccles TRY (Tim Balogun) Conv (Alex Speakman)
29’ 15-10 | Eccles PENALTY (Alex Speakman)
HT 15-13
45’ 22-13 | ECCLES TRY ( Louis Lord) Conv (Alex Speakman)
60’ 27-13 | ECCLES TRY (Will Parky)
63’ 34-13 | ECCLES TRY (Zak Brooker)
FT 34-18
