NW Colts League
REPORT
Eccles Senior Colts began their Colts League campaign at Burnley on Sunday, with a very different line up from last week, this time suffering from a lack of forward options. Once again several players were given the opportunity to experience new or unfamiliar positions as the coaches looked to achieve some kind of balance for the team with the available players. Full credit to all who made a personal effort to travel and participate in the afternoon fixture after their morning commitments. With a number of Front Row options missing, the team had to adapt to ensure they could compete with a contested scrum.
Eccles started with good attacking urgency, applying sustained pressure on the hosts keeping the ball entirely in the Burnley half for the first quarter of the game. Eccles had two held-up try attempts in the right corner, before eventually breaking the deadlock after 19 minutes with accurate, fast passing across the pitch for the Captain, Temi, to seek and slice through a gap in the defence on the left flank and scoot in to dot down behind the posts for the opening try, converted by Alex. 0-7.
The game continued to be a closely matched, physical contest with Eccles putting in some big hits to cope with the big Burnley pack who pounded their lines. Defensive commitment and discipline was good but casual effort at the breakdown lost possession and with the penalty the hosts were able to capitalise, scoring a try on the left 5-7.
The reduction of the deficit stoked Burnley’s belief and increased the tension. The game became fiesty with the competitive aggression boiling over when an attempt to force a Burnley ball carrier into touch resulted in a scuffle off the pitch. The Eccles Captain and a Burnley player were both sent to the bin for their part in the incident and the referee resumed order of the match. A number of injuries followed for Eccles but with adaptable replacements, the team was able to reorganise itself and was soon back in the ascendancy playing good rugby and applying attacking pressure on the hosts inside their 22.
At 30 mins Eccles extended their lead with a try from Harry P, converted by Alex (5-14) and then further extended their authority just before the half time whistle with a Try from Chayse, who scooped up the loose ball at a breakdown and charged for the line, scoring to the side of sticks, giving Alex a straightforward conversation to put Eccles comfortably ahead at the break.
HT 5-21
The second half was a different experience for Eccles who had to show gritty resilience as Ollie, who had been effective in the line out and in loose, joined fellow forwards Blake and Chayse on the sidelines as the injuries piled up and Burnley increased the physicality of their game, particularly their heavy guns who were making good yards in the middle of the pitch. A Burnley try took the score to 10-21, but within 5 minutes Eccles responded, with good pressure from the restart resulting in a turnover and a great line break from James in the centre, who evaded the tackles to power through and score between the posts, converted by Alex. 10-28.
Admirable work rate from the makeshift Eccles pack kept Burnley at bay for long periods and quick ball resulted in a number of promising breaks up the wings from Temi, Alex and Lucas. 18 points up and things were looking good with 10 minutes to go but a second yellow card awarded to scrum half Matt Reed for offside gave the home team a numerical advantage against an already disrupted Eccles line up. Burnley piled on the pressure, with their big lads punching holes in the tiring Eccles defence and two late converted tries for the hosts brought the score to 24-28, for an exciting finish to the game with supporters of both teams offering vocal encouragement to the lads.
Showing good composure, determination and spirit, Eccles took the game to Burnley in the remaining minutes and with last play indicated by the official, Eccles won their scrum inside the Burnley 22 and kicked the ball into touch to conclude the match.
The game was a wrestle at times and might be best described as character building chaos! Eccles stuck to the task and despite playing some good expansive rugby in the first half were forced to re-organise, dig deep and grind it out in the second half to earn deserved away win. A good result in a competitve contest but a lot to work on. As with the game against Liverpool Collegiate last week, the benefit of a flexible squad who are prepared to work hard for each other, having replacements who deliver impact, accurate kicking and making a strong start proved to be decisive.
FT 24-28
Report Chris Gaffey.
TEAM
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