Senior Academy 48 Eccles 18's 8

Crewe & Nantwich Senior Academy Colts headed North on Sunday for their away game at Eccles RUFC in the Halbro Colts league.

Though the weather was kind and the lads ran out in spring sunshine, last week’s storms were making themselves felt as the pitch was still heavy from all the rain.

From the outset, C&N put Eccles on the back foot and quickly hit their stride. Broken play from the first visit to Eccles 22 saw Josh Sourbutts pick and drive to get the first score on the board.

Eccles then took advantage from the kick off, keeping possession and forcing a penalty out of C&N at the ruck that went between the posts, to see the game close at 3 - 5.

C&N quickly put Eccles back under pressure in their own 22m which they kicked to clear. Jarrod Priestley Bird took the ball and carried hard up field to find support. From a quick ruck the ball then went through the hands to see Olly Hollins take it across for C&N’s second score that Logan Lynch converted, C&N leading 3 – 12.

With Eccles working hard but struggling to contain C&N, Eccles lineout 30m out from their own line did not find its mark and C&N capitalised. Stealing the ball, the C&N forwards carried hard but a loose ball went to Eccles. They kicked to clear, but that put the ball with C&N who ran at Eccles, put the ball through hands to get Josh Sourbutts over for his second, the extras being taken to see the score 3 – 19.

Eccles kept working hard and trying to find a way through the C&N defence, but the day did not get easier when Jacob Aston-O'donavan controlled a loose pass on their 22m with his foot, picked up the ball and slipped two tackles to go over for C&N’s fourth. Logan Lynch took the extras, also slotting a penalty as half time approached to see the score 3 – 24 at the break.

The second half saw Eccles continue to work hard to keep C&N out, as well as pushing to make a breakthrough. Eccles patience paid off and after a series of scrums and lineouts they had C&N on their own line with a penalty 5m out. Their pick and drive from their forwards saw Eccles take a well earned score.

The response from C&N was a positive one though, as any complacency was knocked out of them. A hard drive by the forwards seeing Dan Mckenna working hard to drive through the traffic and cross the line and the extras taken, to see C&N go 8 – 34 up.

On the heavy pitch and with the score against them, Eccles continued to put in a great effort though, but with the game in the bag and freedom to push, C&N took the next score as Josh Sourbutts again went over with a great pick and drive from a penalty 5m out to get his third.

The final score of the game was one for the highlights package. A well held scrum on the halfway line put Logan Lynch in position for a cross field kick. For once the ball bounced kindly, with Kohl Preece collecting before stepping the defence to go over in the corner. Logan Lynch took the extras from the just inside the side-line to see the score 8 – 48 as the clock ran down to the final whistle.

C&N had done all they could in the battle to top their Halbro League division, with one game left at home to Sale it was all still to play for.

As the dust settled from the game, the results from the other games in the league began to filter through. Rossendale had beaten C&N's closest rivals in a tight game, leaving the Crewe lads clear at the top of the tree.

The Senior Academy's last league home game is this Sunday at the Vagrants 2pm kick off. come and join us in supporting the lads on what has been an epic campaign.

Try Scorers - Josh x3, Jacob x 1, DMK x 1, Kohl x 1, Olly H x 1
Conversions - Logan x 5
Pens - Logan x 1