The league table sees Thornton at fourth behind Eccles, but Thornton is the only team to have played 15 games, 2 more than Eccles. This was a must win game for Thornton to be able to compete for the top of the league. We welcomed Ralph Clarke this week to the squad after his first game for the club last week in the friendly against Orrell.

The match kicked off with Thornton receiving the ball, straight away the Thornton pack pushed Eccles back, into their own half. Thornton was able to get on the front foot utilising the space around the breakdown with strong forward running from Will Paterson. The ball came out to the backs but some good tackling from Eccles wrapped up Tom Rowley in the middle of the field. Quick play of the ball to Dean Finnegan in space broke through the line to then beat the full back to score. Unconverted, Thornton lead 5-0.

Thornton spent a short time on their own try line with pressure from the Eccles pack in the corner but some brilliant defence kept them out. Now on the offensive Thornton carried the ball back into the Eccles half. With an outrageously high clothesline on the skipper Jamie Beecher, Matt Smiles came on to give him a rest for 10 minutes. The Eccles prop was very fortunate to remain on the field and only give away a penalty. The next play saw the ball passed out from 10 to Matt who called “HEATHER’S BALL” where he smashed it up in the mid field to open up space for the backs down the wing. Coming back inside the old bridge troll Baz Tucker dove for the line to make it his 11th try this season.

Thornton had control of the game but Eccles weren’t going to be submissive and the TC lads had to fight to keep Eccles out once more. Eccles were awarded a penalty and kicked for touch where it was caught by Clint Roscoe, he sidestepped the opposite winger with ease and no contest to find himself on the wrong pitch and 16 forwards waiting for the lineout. Eccles managed to pull a try back to make it Eccles 5-10 Thornton at half time.

The second half started off with a bit of to and fro from either sides fullbacks, Stephen Hatch was able to gain crucial yards to take Thornton back into the Eccles half. The forwards followed and picked the ball up at the back of the ruck to be held up over the line. The scrum was given to Eccles 5 yards from the line in the corner. The Thornton pack dominated in the scrums the whole game so far pushed Eccles back to their line and the scrum managed to spin almost 180° and the ball ended up at the skippers feet over the line where a slight downward pressure was applied, however the “wrecking ball” that was Dean Finnegan dove on the ball to claim the try for his own (I am still adamant that it was my try). Thornton increased their lead to 17-5.

With some more fast feet and brilliant play from the back line, Thornton attacked down the wing with Johnny Taylor leading the charge. Drawing the Eccles winger Johnny passed the ball to Dave Kay on the wing but good pressure from the Eccles fullback Dave was denied the chance to score. Eccles cleared the ball away and let Thornton attack again, the forwards linked up with the backs to attack around the corner into the Eccles half. Once again the Eccles prop used his wrestling style clothesline on the skipper; the high tackle won Thornton a penalty. Miraculously the Eccles prop still remained on the field without punishment or even a talking to after the second offence. Soon after Johnny was at it again and broke through a tackle to score in the corner. Thornton 24-5.

Neil Wright came back on at prop for the last 15 to steady the scrum against the Eccles second team replacements that started to dominate the scrums. With the influx of new players as the other game had finished it gave Eccles a second wind. However Thornton could taste the sweet taste of victory dug deep to tackle their giant. Easily double the size of Jack McFarlane, the Eccles new second row couldn’t barge his way past the scrum half and Jack stopped him in his tracks.

The game finished with a well earned victory for Thornton. There were many contenders for Man of the Match; Neil for his big hits, scrummaging and overall play, Johnny for the speed and tackling in the back line, Jack for being his usual annoying self disrupting quick ball for Eccles, Ralph for his high intensity and work rate around the park or Hatchy for managing to turn a sticky situation into a decent attack. To be fair there were so many other players that performed excellently that it was hard to narrow down a short list. The Man of the Match this week was Dean Finnegan for his work around the park and the wrecking ball runs that he made.