Orrell v Eccles

Orrell's first game of the new season was at home against Eccles. Orrell were very pleased to welcome some new players who played for the squad for the first time.

Orrell were kept in their own half in the early part of the game due in part to them turning the ball over and eventually from a scrum 20 meters out from the try line, Eccles won the scrum and quickly moved the ball out to their right wing to score an unconverted try midway through the half.

Eccles 2nd try also came from a scrum 15 meters out, and then they ran through the Orrell defence to score between the posts. The try was converted to make the score Orrell 0 Eccles 12 with 10 minutes to the break.

Orrell did eventually get into their opponent’s half, but Eccles were awarded a scrum close to their own line. However good tackling by Orrell resulted in the ball becoming loose; quickly picked up by the home side for Captain Dan Huxley touch down for Orrell's first try which was converted by Terry Leaford.

Although there was less than 3 minutes left to half time, Eccles again got deep into Orrell’s half and got a penalty 20 meters out. They took a quick tap of the ball and moved it out to their left winger to score their third try which was converted to make the score Orrell 7 Eccles 19.

From the restart Eccles took the ball into touch, but Orrell lost their own throw in allowing Eccles to move the ball quickly to score their 4th try for a bonus point. A converted try made the score Orrell 7 Eccles 26 at half time.

Just 4 minutes after the restart Orrell's replacement forward David Wane was yellow carded. From a penalty a few minutes later, Eccles kicked for touch and then won their line out enabling them to score their fifth try which was converted. At the restart Eccles ran the ball back from inside their own half to touch down for their sixth try which was unconverted making the score Orrell 7 Eccles 38 with still 30 minutes to play.

5 minutes later Orrell kicked the ball from inside their own half along the touch line only for Eccles to run the ball back through the homes sides defence to score their 7th try which was converted.
Almost immediately after Orrell were back to 15 players Orrell were again down to 14 when Second Row Andy Kelly was yellow carded.

Just before midway through the half, eventually Orrell managed to get into their opponent’s half and were awarded a penalty 10 meters out. They tapped the ball and after a few pickups and drives Dan Huxley touch down for his second try again converted by Terry Leaford. Orrell 14 Eccles 45.

From the restart Orrell immediately mounted an attack and a good break by Dan Huxley took Orrell midway into their opponent’s half, where they quickly recycled the ball and after a number of pick up and drives David Wane touched down for Orrell's 3rd try which was again converted by Terry Leaford. Orrell 21 Eccles 45.

Before the restart, the Referee had yellow carded an Eccles player, but soon Eccles were back in the home sides half. From a drop out from behind the Orrell try line the ball went straight into touch, and from the resulting scrum Eccles again mover the ball quick to score their 8th try which was converted.
With just over 5 minutes left in the game, Orrell were awarded a penalty, which took them into their opponent’s half and then from a scrum 10 meters out, Dan Huxley picked up the ball from the back of the scrum and passed to Max Huxley to score Orrell's fourth try, for a bonus point, converted by Terry Leaford. Orrell 28 Eccles 52.

In the dying minutes of the game Eccles managed to score an unconverted try and then a converted try to make the final score at the whistle Orrell 28 Eccles 64.