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   Birkenhead Park RUFC 8 Eccles RUFC 3
You have to be careful when you write a match report that you do not do it too close to the event. The danger being that the emotions will be too raw and you are unable to give a detailed analytical summary of events. So with that in mind and after a cold shower and short period of transcendental meditation we can start. Whereas last week I was critical of the lads for trying to beat themselves, this week they did all they could, well almost, to gain a deserved victory, but alas the cruel fates were against them. A hard lesson in life in having to accept the things they cannot change. Pre-match events were both numerous and humorous. We had a welcome re-appearance of Ben Sherman, Jordan O’Neal almost running out of petrol getting to Birkenhead, Joe Cranston, at last doing his homework and being “ungrounded” by his mum, and finally Paul Thornley having a bit of a go slow with his car and turning up with Connor as the game kicked off. The game started with Eccles facing a strong wind and doing very well. The performance by the Eccles players was so good you would not have realised the wind was blowing. Yet despite all the good work being put in the home side were able to open the score with an unconverted try. Eccles as you would expect responded well making many opportunities to score for themselves, alas none being taken with one glaring opportunity being wasted due to the lack of a simple pass to a winger. At half time the lads turned round only 5 points down but now with the wind to their advantage. Eccles used the elements well constantly pinning the home side into their 22 and moving the ball in an attempt to open their own account. Twice the boys crossed the line but twice they were denied. Once for a forward pass, and once because the referee did not see the player ground the ball. At about this time the wind appeared to drop so all advantage there was lost also. Despite all these ill fates they had to suffer the lads showed their character and never stopped trying. They were eventually rewarded with a penalty kick by Reese James, but as the fates would have it the home side were able to kick a penalty of their own straight after to maintain their 5 point lead. With the clock steadily ticking down a long kick by James Wright saw Brendan Cullen nail his opposite man on his own try line. Despite hitting the ruck in vastly superior numbers Eccles were unable to produce the ball and the home side escaped again. At this point the referee had to have a word with the Eccles Touch Judge and threaten to send him to the naughty step. I did say emotions were high. So it was that the home side were able to withstand the final assaults by Eccles and prevail in the game. A great performance by the Eccles players, showing excellent discipline, despite the provocation and erratic nature on the game. My MoM goes to Wes Harrison, playing out of position but fitting in well at fullback he made two bone crunching try saving tackles. From now on we’ll have to call him “the wall”. Source: Eccles RUFC. Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. Becoming a member of SalfordOnline only takes a minute, just hit the red Join Us button at the top right hand side of the page to create your Personal account. Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
