This Weekend’s Rugby

Good luck to everyone pulling on the Navy n’ White hoops this weekend. 1XV at home and 2XV away at Upper Eden on Saturday. On Sunday the Senior Colts are away at Preston Grasshoppers in the Colts League Plate.

Saturday 23rd March

• 1XV v OSWESTRY 1XV
• KO 3pm 
• HOME
• Venue: Gorton Street
• 1XV Form: WWWLLWWWWWWWLWWWL
• Report: Although at opposite ends of the table, Eccles enjoyed a close tussle down in Shropshire last December returning home with a 6-19 victory and a brace of pheasants! The 1s had three wins between the defeats to Aspull and Orrell and will be aiming to get back on track and secure a 5-point result on Saturday to keep their promotion ambitions alive with three games remaining.
• Table  Lancs/Cheshire Div 2
• RESULT:  52-12 WIN
• 8 Tries: Gavin Ackers-Johnson 2, Chris Fortune 3, Will Parkinson, Mark Greenhalgh, Curtis Bates
• Conversions: Chris Fortune / Will Parkinson
• Report:  Eccles dominated the opening quarter of an hour, scoring their first try within the first minute of play, and within 12 minutes had added 3 more. The visitors appeared to have no answer for the Eccles attack until Eccles squandered a line-out near the half way line, dropping a ball, leading to an Owestry Line-Out and following some casual defending, an eventual Try under the sticks on 16 minutes – Neatly summarised from the commentary balcony by groundsman Ted as “ bloody rubbish Eccles!” Galvanised by this encouragement, Eccles set about reasserting their dominance and maintaining possession in the opposite half. Injured Srum Half Sam Long was replaced by Tim Cullen. Eccles momentum had been disrupted but supporters were soon enjoying bold attacking rugby again, with Chris Fortune favouring the brave approach, fending off a defender to go outside and over the line at 31′ for his first try of a hat-trick. His second try followed just before the break with some wonderful rugby, and great inter-passing through the centre between himself and Martin Thompson. HT 38-7. Owestry rallied following half-time words from their coach and the second half began with a more determined attitude from the visitors. The game was more evenly balanced and it was 54′ before Eccles scored, through an initial break out from defence from fullback Lee Morris, alertness from Tim Cullen to move the ball quickly across the field and launch an attack down the right wing with passing between Gav and Shea providing the opportunity for Chris to claim his third Try of the afternoon. At 60′ Eccles endured a 10 period of multiple penalties resulting in Prop James Cunningham receiving a yellow card (offside). With the numerical advantage Owestry were able to keep the game in the Eccles half, eventually scoring a try at 70’ in the corner. 45-12. Cunningham returned to the field and Eccles returned play to the opposite end. With persistence from the pack and great carries from Fin Cox amongst others, Curtis Bates broke through the defensive line to score a try to the side of the posts in the last minute of play. FT 52-12

• 2XV v UPPER EDEN 2XV
• KO 3pm 
• AWAY
• Venue: Pennine Park, Westgarth, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4TF
• Report: Eccles 2s enjoyed an 85-10 victory at Gorton Street when the teams last met in November. A win would keep the 2s in contention at the top of the table although with 4 games remaining, promotion looks unlikely following the recent 7-15 loss to Crosby.
• A try from Damola in the final minutes took the scores level, but unfortunately Reece James was unable to convert to provide Eccles with the away win. Coach Brom reports the opposition were arguably the better side, with their 1XV game being called off enabling them to strengthen their side. Signs of how strong a Eccles 2XV we are building.
• Table: SaleSharksDiv3North
• 2XV Form: WDWWWWLLLWWWWWWLLWWL
• RESULT:  29-29
• 5 Tries: Damola (2) Joe Davies (2) Leon, 
• Conversions: Reece James
• Penalties:

Sunday 24th March

• PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS SNR COLTS v ECCLES SNR COLTS
• Colts League U18 Senior Plate
• KO 2pm 
• AWAY : Lightfoot Green Ln, Preston PR4 0APColts
• Colts Form: LLWLLWLW WLWWWWLWWWWWW
• Report: (Table) With their recent 17-18 victory at Clitheroe to secure their League title, and the 30-29 win last Sunday against Ormskirk in the Lancs Trophy Semi Final, the Colts are proving they can handle pressure and dig deep in high stakes games. They needed the same grit and determination on Sunday when they travelled to Preston for the Colts League Senior Plate QF, with depleted numbers, to face a competitive Grasshoppers team who are a league division above them. Eccles achieved a memorable 30-7 victory against PGH in a cracking game at Gorton Street last October and though Eccles’ strong finish to the season contrasts with Hoppers (who have suffered four defeats) the colts knew they’d have to repeat the same level of commitment and performance to progress in this competition. The travelling support were not to be disappointed. Eccles kicked off in windy conditions and immediately put Hoppers under pressure inside their 22. Within 03’ Flanker Max Mulligan burst through under the sticks, with the first attack, to put Eccles ahead; converted by Alex Speakman. [0-7] PGH restart and use the blustery conditions well to create chaos with a bouncing ball. The Eccles defence were made to work hard to prevent an almost certain try in the corner when the home team winger and fullback fail to control a chipped ball expertly placed by the opposition Fly-Half. Hoppers continue their fight to get back in the game and the middle becomes attritional as penalties are awarded against both teams for offside. At 23’ PGH get the ball out wide (howls from spectators for ‘forward pass’ are ignored) and their right winger evades tackles to run the try in, under the sticks. [7-7]. Eccles respond and the pack takes the game to PSG, building pressure and moving the ball well through phases. At 30’ prop Josh Green rides the tackles to drive over the line on the left wing to put Eccles ahead again, converted by an excellent kick in the wind from Alex. [7-14] At 35′ a penalty gives the Eccles Fly-Half the opportunity to increase the lead from 30m but the ball hits the post – remarkable it’s that close to success considering the strong wind. Following the half time break PGH take full advantage of the conditions and regularly kick long into the corner. At 44’, from such a kick, an Eccles line-out on the right is lost and PGH are more alert to secure possession, switching play, kicking the ball diagonally across field to the advancing backs where the lack of cover allows the hosts to even the score with a well executed try [14-14]. At 56’ a 30m penalty in the centre of the pitch, with the wind behind the kicker, gives PGH the lead [17-14]. As we’ve seen several times in the past few weeks this colts team do not fold when things turn against them, they rise to the challenge. As the game enters its final quarter the contest becomes a physical encounter with both teams now heeding the Referee’s instructions at the breakdown and displaying good discipline. Eccles succeeded in keeping the ball in PGH territory for long periods with repeated big carries from forwards James Fletcher, Matty Lee, Dan Aspinall, Josh Green and Keiron Reed. Flankers Cam Smollett and Max Mulligan kept the pressure on the Hoppers playmakers and a knock on is forced under the posts. From a 10m scrum Eccles exert attacking pressure on a resilient PGH defence. Driving for the line Matt Walker popped a sublime pass out the backdoor to Shea, who feeds winger Dan Delaney, who feigns to go inside and then backs himself to finish in the left corner showing great strength to combat the tackler – a fantastic team try at 64’ to put Eccles ahead [17-19]. The conversion kick narrowly misses in the strong wind, but it makes no difference to the final result. Preston make a concerted effort to respond but Eccles regain possession and see out the remaining minutes in the middle of the pitch to claim victory. A cracking game. Another very close, competitive contest for the colts who will now progress to the Senior Plate Semi Final (vs Northwich). Another nail-bitting late charge and close finish decided a few minutes from the final whistle! Can these lads maintain this momentum to pull off a League and Cup Double? Can their coaches’ hearts keep ticking until the end of the Season? Be at Gorton Street next Sunday afternoon to find out.
• RESULT: 17-19 WIN
  
• 3 Tries: Man of the Match Max Mulligan (03) Josh Green (30) Dan Delaney (64)
  
• Conversions: Alex Speakman 2