Having been treated to generous pre-match hospitality by the hosts, who were holding their annual former players lunch, your reporter ventured out from the toasts and tales of old comrades into the beautiful, sunny autumn afternoon to watch a youthful Eccles 2XV take on Bolton Lostock 2XV at Avenue Street, for the third game of the season.
The so far unbeaten Eccles 2s made a confident start to the match, playing fast flowing attacking rugby, with the ball changing hands smoothly and quickly across the park curtesy of a pace-setting Gaz Hession who was to have a great game at Fly Half. Eccles were soon applying pressure inside the Bolton Lostock 22 and with just 5 minutes played, a quick tap penalty provided the opportunity for prop Dan Aspinall to score the opening Try in the corner; converted by Sam Crowther. 0-7.
Eccles were fired up and eager to establish early dominance in the game. Straight from the restart the twos were hunting possession and following a successful line out, fast ball across the middle saw Eccles break at speed, with centre Will Timmins bursting through the gap in the defence to score in the corner; Crowther’s conversation kick narrowly missing. 0-12. Eccles continued to play at a ruthless speed, and just 4 minutes later scrum half Danny Royle broke through the line, racing up the right flank to scooter in and score between the uprights, making Crowther’s conversion straightforward. 0-19.
With just 14 minutes played the confident Eccles 2s had a promising 3-try lead. Coach James Cunningham attempted to refocus the jubilant team on their tasks with a few firm words, which went unheeded. Bolton Lostock were determined to respond and following the restart scored their first try of the afternoon in the corner, assisted by some sleepy Eccles defensive work. 5-19. The hosts further reduced the deficit a few minutes later with a penalty to take the score to 8-19. Eccles had become sloppy, making unnecessary errors, and a few more words from the touchline technical area were required to correct the complacency!
On 30 minutes, Eccles executed a wonderful break, with the Captain Matt Parkinson, playing on the left wing, racing away into an open field to score comfortably under the sticks; converted. 8-26. Bolton Lostock responded almost straightaway with a try of their own but this was to be their last contribution to the scoreboard with Zak Brooker securing Eccles' fifth try just before the break.
HT 15-33.
The Eccles 2XV began the second half in the same style as they had begun the first, going about their work with energy and enthusiasm and looking to assert authority over the hosts. It was not long before the Eccles replacements were in the thick of the action and the team went on to add four more tries to their tally:
On 45 minutes the skipper extended the lead with his second score of the game (15-38). At 60 minutes, from an Eccles line out, Edward Mather gained possession and took the game into the centre, from where the ball was whipped back to the left wing where Timmo raced to the line and tipped on to Mike McDonough who scored in the corner (15-43). Eccles continued to enjoy good success down the left flank and on 65 minutes, an Eccles scrum on the left set up a sublime attacking move with Will Timmins , now on the wing, rocketing through on an inside pass, splitting the defence, and scoring to the left of sticks; converted by Sam Crowther. (15-50). On 65 minutes Danny Royal scored his second try of the game (15-57). Following this Eccles took their foot off the gas and lost focus. A strong drive from centre Byron Read was bundled into touch in the corner when a pass out wide would have released a 3 v 1 overload and this was to be the last meaningful attacking opportunity for the visitors.
In the last 10 minutes, a sequence of penalties encouraged the hosts deeper into Eccles territory and Read received a yellow card defending the goal line with a few minutes remaining on the clock. Despite the disadvantage Eccles were able to close the game out and claimed the away win with a dominant performance in both halves. A very promising third consecutive victory for a youthful Eccles 2XV with a core of #homegrown players, now in 2nd place in the NOWIRUL Div2 North league with the prospect of league leaders Chorley to look forward to as the next fixture.
FT 15-57
Report CG.
HIGHLIGHTS
05’ 0-7 TRY ECCLES (Dan Aspinall) conv (Sam Crowther)
10’ 0-12 TRY ECCLES (Will Timmins)
14’ 0-19 TRY ECCLES (Mike McDonagh) conv (Sam Crowther )
19’ 5-19 TRY BOLTON LOSTOCK
22’ 8-19 PENALTY BOLTON LOSTOCK
30’ 8-26 TRY ECCLES (Matt Parkinson) conv (S Crowther)
35’15-26 TRY BOLTON LOSTOCK
40’ 15-33 TRY ECCLES ( Zak Brooker)
HT 15-33
45’ 15-38 TRY ECCLES (Matt Parkinson) conv missed.
60’ 15-43 TRY ECCLES (Mike McDonough) conv missed.
65’ 15-50 TRY ECCLES (Will Timmins)conv (Sam c )
65’ 15-57 TRY ECCLES (Danny Royal) conv (Sam c )
FT 15-57
