Meetings between Eccles and Warrington stretch back to 1923, Warrington's inaugural season, when Eccles played at Alder Forest with headquarters at the Bridgewater Hotel Worsley, moving to Barton Lane and the Kings Head Hotel in 1924. Thankfully, a century later, changing facilities and refreshments are now just a few steps from the pitch at Gorton Street, where a beautiful, sunny afternoon provided perfect conditions for an entertaining, open flowing game of rugby for the first fixture of 2024. Back in September, Eccles enjoyed a comfortable 12-42 victory at Grappenhall when they took charge of the game with two early tries. However, the return fixture proved to be a much closer contest with Warrington securing the first points, when a well judged 50/20 kick from Warrington Fullback, Rockey, resulted in a line-out and then a penalty in the Eccles 22 to give the visitors the lead with just a few minutes played. 4’ 0-3 . At the restart Eccles continued their lethargic start and a deflected kick was picked up and finished by the Warrington Fullback who scored in the left corner. 7’ 0-8. Eccles responded and for the next 10 minutes had the attacking possession but were unable to penetrate the determined defence with the visitor's speed at the breakdown regularly giving them the opportunity to turnover the ball and clear their lines. Eccles unlocked the situation from a scrum in their own half, moving the ball quickly amongst the backs releasing Stand off Simpson who broke through the middle and, weaving a mercurial spell on the defenders, scored a fine try in the right corner and added the extras with a sweet strike from right boot. TRY (Simpson) Conversion (Simpson) 19’ 7-8. Eccles were now playing with confidence and a line-out on the right inside the Warrington 22, caught cleanly by Spooner, set a platform for their next attack. Hooker Cox broke from the back of the driving maul and the marauding captain carried the ball to 6m from the goal line, play was shifted swiftly by the half backs out to the left wing but a misdirected pass from Candland halted momentum and the ball was switched back infield to the right where Simpson slotted a measured grubber kick through the defensive line to the right corner where the advancing Ayanlaja-Lowo caused chaos between the Warrington Winger and Fullback and pounced on the loose ball to score. TRY (Ayanlaja-Lowo) 25’ 12-8. With 29' minutes played, Warrington were awarded a penalty which they elected to kick to touch for a 5m line-out. Eccles successfully defended the attack and, regaining possession, played out from their own in-goal area, displaying good composure and shape to break and run the ball the length of the pitch, with fullback Parkinson gassing through the field and scoring to the side of the sticks. TRY (Parkinson) Converted (Simpson) 30’ 19-8. 3 minutes later Warrington pulled 3 points back with another penalty. Eccles continued to press for the remainder of the half with Simpson instrumental in sparking attacks but twice failed to take advantage of good breaks when they were unable to guide the last pass out to the waiting hands of Ackers-Johnson on the left wing. HT 19-11 Eccles began the second half looking to reassert their authority. The forwards were dominating the set piece and soon building pressure inside the visitor’s territory. An Eccles 10m scrum gave Fortune the opportunity to use his repertoire of skills at number 8 but his first attempt to score was held up by some fearless defending. A second scrum gave him a second attempt with the push-over which resulted in a try to extend Eccles lead. TRY (Fortune) Converted (Simpson) 47’ 26-11. Eccles dominated possession and territory for the next 10 minutes but Warrington increased their committed tackling to prevent any further scoring by the hosts and their resilience and work rate eventually paid off. On 57’ Fortune committed a penalty at the breakdown giving Warrington an opportunity to reduce the deficit but the kick missed the goals. However, a lack of accuracy in Eccles own kicking and some complacency in defence resulted in a sustained passage of attacking play from Warrington leading to a try in the corner. 60’ 26-16. Eccles responded to this set back and mounted a promising attack through Simpson which faltered at the Warrington 22, despite supporting numbers out wide, with a forward pass from Parkinson; an error the fullback made amends for a few minutes later with a crucial defensive tackle inside the Eccles 22. With 15 minutes remaining, Eccles grip on the game and possession began to slip as the visitors gained belief, with the Warrington fullback in particular offering a dangerous counter attacking threat. At 72’ a Warrington penalty from 35m fell wide of the posts, the ball was cleared up field but caught cleanly and returned back to Eccles territory. At 79’ another Warrington penalty led to a 5m line-out from which a free-kick was awarded and quickly taken by Warrington who were able to successfully ground the ball in the corner for a late try converted by a good kick as the last play. 80’ 26-23. Warrington finished strongly and put up a tough fight throughout in an enjoyable game played in a good spirt with no cards issued to either team. Eccles played some dynamic rugby particularly in the first half and continue in their push for back-to-back promotion, securing the bonus-point necessary to keep them top of the Lancashire & Cheshire Cunties 1 division. FT 26-23. Photos by Phil Saunders Hall. Eccles Team. K Reed, F Cox (C), A Campbell, N Spooner, J Manzanares, L Evans, R Thornton, C Fortune; S Long, L Simpson, G Ackers Johnson, H Candland, B Read, D Ayanlaja-Lowo, W Parkinson. Replacements, R Eaton, M Mulligan, G Tyson.
