CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME I would like to offer a warm welcome to Aspull Rugby Union Football club, our close rivals from last season, with both teams earning promotion from Lancs/Cheshire Two. Aspull have the bragging rights after three close games, which included the Lancashire Plate Final. All three games went Aspull’s way, but only just. Eccles will be keen to turn this around, with both teams having mixed results in the start to their new league campaigns. Eccles have 3 wins from 5 and are sitting in 6th place and Aspull have 2 wins from 4 and are placed 8th. Aspull’s biggest defeat was against Manchester 83-10, but they bounced back well last week against De La Salle, 41-20. Eccles will want to put right some uncharacteristic mistakes, costing then dearly at Anselmians last week, with a 29-12 loss. The game was closer than the score line suggests and was there for the taking, if the chances had been taken and the error count cut. Welcome also to those early birds who join us this morning for ‘Le Crunch’ family event, where we are attempting to encourage Mini & Junior players and parents to come down to the club to enjoy Saturday rugby, screening the England v France World Cup game in the morning and staying on to enjoy some rugby activities on the pitch, followed by Eccles 1XV vs Aspull and Eccles 2XV v Orrell 2XV 3pm KO in the afternoon. We hope you enjoy your Free Breakfast, which is available from 8am, supported by Lancashire RFU. We achieve everything we do in, and for, our community, through the efforts of dedicated volunteers and the generous support of sponsors who share our ambition and passion. Thank you to our referees today, who like players, work during the week and then step out onto the field to officiate. They do their jobs under pressure and I would encourage rugby spectators and staff to understand and be more appreciative of their role in rugby. Without them we would not have the games today. Cheers.Thorpey. Paul Thorpe, Eccles RFC Chairman
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