A huge thanks of gratitude must go to all the volunteers whose exemplary efforts made last weekend’s 10th Eccles Beer & Gin Festival such an outstanding success. Everyone who attended the Saturday evening session (if they can remember any of it!) will attest to its now legendary rocking status. Despite the rain, the event can be considered one of the best ever.
The Eccles Cup tournament provided an entertaining afternoon of attacking rugby and the club extends its appreciation to visitors Leigh, Vale of Lune and Bolton who accepted the challenge and made a huge contribution to the day. The competition was a timely reminder of what we’ve all been missing. There were big cheers when the games kicked off at 1pm.
Eccles dominated early possession and territory in their first game, but handling errors handed their opponant Leigh the first opportunity to score with a breakaway opening try against the run of play in the corner and claimed the converation with a good kick from the right flnak. Eccles recovered to score under the sticks, through a charge down from Alex Speakman, but the chance to even the scores was inexplicably squandered. Close contest. Eccles 5-7 Leigh.
Vale defeated Bolton in their opening round 26-0 with a bag of tries and were next up for the hosts. Eccles and Vale were evenly matched; Eccles opened the scoring with a penalty goal. Vale gradually built up the pressure and once again an Eccles handling error gifted the vistors a penalty scrum in theside the 22, from where they blitzed through from close range and slotted the conversion. The second half was fast and furious, both defences were solid, there were few clear cut openings. Vale held on to take the win. Eccles 3-7 Vale of Lune. Leigh beat Bolton 14-0 to keep thier 100% record in tact.
Leigh and Vale now faced each other in their final group match, the result of which would decide the Cup and Bowl finalists. Vale lost to Leigh 6-0, but were to meet Leigh once more in the Cup final, despite Eccles best efforts to make amends for their double defeat in the first two games, by routing Bolton with 4 tries to no reply to claim bonus point victory. Eccles 22-0 Bolton. Eccles saw some fine performances from some of the younger homegrown former colts and went on to claim the Bowl when Bolton were unable to contest the Bowl final due to injuries suffered.
The Cup final was an enjoyable evenly balanced match to watch, with some excellent fast rugby from both Leigh and Vale, building to a dramatic conclusion. At the end of full time, the scores were level at 7-7. The game moved into extra time, with the first to score crowned winners. Leigh collected the golden points and the trophy, with a coolly struck long range penalty goal. Leigh lifted the Eccles Cup (a polished stainless steel bucket) plus £215 in donations collected for their nominated charity from the touchline and headed back to Hand Lane as Champions to orgainse their open top bus parade. We look forward to them returning to Gorton Street next summer to defend their title.
It was disappointing that so many invited clubs were unable to assemble a team and pulled out at the last minute but it was agreed by the participants that the tournament had been a worthwhile and highly entertaining exercise in pre-season preparations. We hope the North West rugby community is soon able to quickly recover from the damage done by COVID and begin once again to attract men back to the game.
Our 1XV will be looking to get their season off to a positive start tomorrow when they meet Burnley in the first round of the Lancashire Plate at Gorton Street, whilst our 2XV will entertain the gentlemen of Littleborough in a pre-season warm up and our 3XV will take the short journey to Trafford MV for a friendly. Kick Off for all three games is 3pm.
