Manchester 52 v Eccles 22

Manchester 52 v Eccles 22

Another strong second half display ensured another maximum five points win against a determined Eccles team; with both sides taking it in turns to score in the first sixty minutes before Manchester stretched away at the end.

The pattern of the first half was set right from the kick off as Manchester failed to gather cleanly and were judged offside at the ruck, penalty to Eccles, which was converted, 0v3.

It was then Eccles turn to fail to execute a good exit from the kick off, a clearance kick from Eccles went straight to Harry Lewis who swiftly moved it left where Ollie Dickinson made a break, good interplay between backs and forwards saw the ball moved right and then left again, with Harry going over in the corner, conversion missed 5v3.

Once again poor execution when in their own 22 so Manchester concede a penalty at the ruck, Eccles took a quick tap to score in the right corner, conversion missed, 5v8.

From the restart Manchester forced a scrum penalty in the Eccles half, which was kicked to touch, although the line out was lost from the resultant scrum Manchester got a drive on, the ball came out the side where it was grabbed by Charlie Ding, quick ruck ball was moved to the right and following a series of close in drives Lewis McKay crashed over, converted by Freeman, 12v8.

It was now Manchester’s turn once again to poorly execute an exit, with touch missed from a penalty Eccles moved the ball quickly down the back line and created an overlap on the right for a second try, which was converted 12v15.

As half time approached, Eccles lost a line out in their own half, Manchester moved the ball along the back line to Ollie Dickinson who made another clean break, quick ruck ball created an overlap on the right; although MJ was held up twice just short of the try line, the ball was eventually driven over by the forwards with Callum Baines getting the try, converted by Freeman; half time 19v15.

Crucially from the restart Manchester got the next score to break the pattern of the game.

Pouncing on a spilled ball, Freeman made a jinging 40 yard run deep into the Eccles 22, forcing a penalty at the ruck. A quick tap was worked to Harry Lewis who looked to be clean through, only to spill the ball at the last minute, however, as Sam Powell picked up and crashed over the referee adjudged the ball had gone backwards off an Eccles hand, the try stood, converted by Freeman, 26v15.

As before, Eccles showed great determination and came back into the game, forcing a series of penalties, the last of which was kicked to the corner, where a catch and drive saw Eccles reduce the deficit to one score 26v22.

However, from this point in the game, the Manchester forwards were able to dominate both in the loose and at the scrum. Jake Stewart making some barn-storming drives and Joe Williams a number of breaks in the centre; this coupled with a much improved exit strategy allowed Manchester to keep the remainder of the play deep in the Eccles half and go over for four more tries, securing the win and a try bonus point.

Firstly, from a stolen line out Charlie Ding crashed over; then from a catch and drive Brian touched down; as Eccles constantly infringed at the ruck in their 22 they were reduced to 14 players following a yellow card; a penalty tap to Jake Stewart so him crash over and finally a break in the mid-field so Joe Williams go over, with three conversions by Freeman the final score was 52 v22 to Manchester.

Another dominant display by the Manchester forwards, led from the front by Jake Stewart in a man of the match performance secured the five point win. Although in some doubt for the first sixty minutes, once Manchester sorted out their exit strategy from their own half they played some of their best rugby of the season in the closing minutes to end up 30 points clear.