Senior Academy 36 Eccles 0

CREWE & NANTWICH SENIOR ACADEMY 36 – ECCLES SENIOR COLTS 0

Crewe and Nantwich RUFC Senior Academy Colts returned to Halbro league action on Sunday; a week after getting so close to taking the win against Caldy in the Cheshire Cup.
Once again, a large crowd turned out to see if the lads could keep the performance levels high, and get back to our winning ways.
From the Kick-off, Crewe’s attack put Eccles on the back foot and saw Crewe well established in their territory. C&N patience and control paid off, putting Eccles under pressure in their own 22, where Joshua Sourbutts was quickest to react to the referee’s whistle, taking a swift tap penalty and rampaging through a startled Eccles defence to get the first points on the board for C&N.
As the game developed, both sides caught the attention of the referee, as Eccles started to gain and hold field position. Strong defence saw C&N repel a number of the visitors’ efforts, eventually forcing a turnover that Adam Deegan carried strongly up field with excellent support from the ever-present Dan Mckenna. As the ball went through several players hands, some sort of misdemeanour took place which meant the subsequent try was disallowed.
However, C&N managed to stay in Eccles 22, forcing a fumble in the Eccles set piece, C&N collected. A cross field kick from Lynch was picked up by Olly Hollins, who carried hard before offloading to Jacob who was running a great line that got him over the line for C&N’s second try. Logan kicked the extras to see C&N lead 12 – 0.
From the restart Eccles tried to contain C&N, the forwards engaged in a series of scrums that were hard fought by both sides. C&N gained territory to set up a great kick by Tom from a strongly held scrum which was collected and worked through the hands, to set up a powerful running Deegan to score the third try of the half and see C&N lead by 17 – 0 at the break.
As the second half began, it was obvious that the referee’s patience was being tested by both sides and the game slowed again. The C&N forwards kept up the pressure on Eccles giving the backs a solid platform to work from. Logan kicked for position, which was returned by the Eccles left winger, he made good yards but as he took contact he lost control of the ball, Tom Ryle spotted the space that the winger was originally covering, kicking in to the space allowing Logan to collect and go over for C&N’s fourth, also adding the extras to see C&N lead 24 – 0
The referee was still not happy with C&N discipline on offside etc. and having issued the team a warning it was Olly Joyce who was in the firing line and left the field under a yellow card for collapsing a maul.
Eccles would have been hoping for some return during the yellow card, however the C&N coaches used the bench well to keep the intensity up and Eccles out. A returning Olly Joyce lead a kick chase into the Eccles 22, forcing a turnover that he collected and got over the line to see C&N lead by 29 – 0.
With the clock running down, C&N kept pushing as the forwards continued to battle to keep territory, Alfie Johnson taking a quick tap and go to dot down for Crewe’s sixth try that Lynch converted.
With C&N now leading 36 – 0 Eccles still pulled out all the stops to push into the C&N 22 and force a penalty, that they hoped would get them some points on the board. A well struck kick that drifted slightly wide was the last play of the game.
A good workman like performance that never quite hit the heights that it promised. It does however take the Senior Colts to the top of the league, which given the hard work by the squad over the last 12 months, is nothing short of what they deserve.
Many thanks to Eccles for a hard-fought contest, and we all wish them the best for the rest of the season.
Tries – Sourbutts x 1, O’Donovan x 1, Deegan x 1, Lynch x 1, Joyce x 1, Johnson x 1
Cons – Logan x 3