1XV MATCH REPORT Saturday 11 December 2021 Eccles 11-11 Fleetwood Eccles entertained Fleetwood in what would be the last game before the Christmas break, hoping to build on the home win against Oldham. The game turned out even closer than that 3 point win. While the pitch was firm underfoot the conditions were poor and the continuous rain meant it was never likely to be a high scoring game. With this in mind Eccles could not have got off to a much worse start than they did. The ball was turned over and some neat hands from the visitors gave Fleetwood a 5 point lead in the opening minute before most of the crowd had made it to their unfamiliar viewing positions next to the M60. However Eccles rolled their sleeves up and proceeded to get stuck into the game. Eccles began to build territorial pressure and Fleetwood began to concede penalties. The home side regularly showed some ambition to keep the ball moving and despite the conditions were stretching Fleetwood's defence. Fly Half Speakman chipped over a penalty to reduce the deficit to 2 points. With the half nearing an end Eccles stretched the defence to the left and then identified the space to the right with Speakman putting in an excellent crossfield kick that was gathered by Matt Parkinson who just about had the pace to squeeze in the corner. Given the balance of the first half Eccles might have wanted to have been further ahead at half time but were confident that they could continue in the same vain in the second half and build on the lead they had taken. HT 8-5 However Fleetwood had other ideas and slowly began to exert the same territorial pressure the Eccles had in the opening half. This combined with Fleetwood beginning to edge proceedings at the numerous scrums meant the slender lead was under threat. Penalties were traded and then Eccles, having their best passage of play, had a couple of kickable penalties to increase the lead, which were turned down. Unfortunately Eccles could not convert these chances to the try that would surely have sealed the game. Eccles were left to rue these decisions as they conceded the equalising penalty with the minutes and light running out. Fleetwood mounted a final attack to try and steal the game but the aggressive Eccles defence they had shown all game held strong to hold on for a draw. FT 11-11
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