Manchester Prevail in Another Thriller

[b]Match Report by Marcus Edwards[/b]

Manchester had eleven and Eccles had ten players available. The match would be played on the main stadium pitch starting as a nine-a-side fixture over three fifteen minute periods with the teams made up of three forwards and six backs.

Manchester’s forwards started with the usual front row line-up of Rachael Jones, Jess Davids and Caitlin Knight.
The half backs comprised Jess Johnson (Captain) as scrum half with Olivia Farrow as fly half.
The rest of the Manchester backs comprised Chloe Snape playing at centre and Michaela Gurney plus Courtney McNamara as wingers. Casey Thompson started as fullback.
Rolling subs were Ellie Davidson and Chloe Barker.

Unfortunately for Manchester, Eccles started fully ‘switched on’. From the kick-off they were able to put together several good phases, scoring a try (converted) after two minutes following a couple of missed defensive tackles.

From the restart Manchester regained possession and soon put Eccles under pressure. A Manchester knock-on in the Eccles 22 metre area resulted in a scrum. The Manchester forwards dominated the Eccles put-in pushing the scrum back to win the ball. This technical dominance proved to be the norm for the whole of the match against the relatively inexperienced Eccles forwards. With Manchester dominating, Eccles started to leak a few infringement penalties. In an attempt to relieve pressure Eccles resorted to kicking for territory. However with Casey positioned as fullback these kicks were covered and returned with strong attacking runs.

On ten minutes Manchester scored what coaches and spectators deemed to be the best team try of the season so far. Casey picked up a long clearance kick on the half way line laying off to Courtney in support who took the play into the Eccles 22 metre area on the left. The forwards recycled the ball out to the backs and strong runs by both Olivia and Chloe S drove the ball towards the Eccles posts. The ball was again quickly recycled and Jess J was able to pass out to the right to Casey (now in the attacking line) and Michaela. Jess J received an inside pass from Michaela and a maul resulted five metres out from the Eccles try line. The Manchester forwards were able to get across the pitch, despite the heat of the day and the speed of the current attack, to support the drive forward. It was now the turn of the forwards to interchange some tight passes resulting in a spectacular diving try over the line by Jess D. This try highlights how much the team has improved support play over the season, with all of the Manchester players involved in the linked attacking phases.

From the restart Manchester continued to threaten the Eccles try line with Olivia knocking back any attempt by Eccles to run the ball up the centre of the field with some crunching tackles. However a lapse of concentration allowed Eccles to get the ball out to their fast winger. From virtually under the Eccles posts she managed to run around the outside of the Manchester defence and evade all attempted covering tackles to score a try (converted) against the run of play after fourteen minutes. This gave Eccles the belief that this might be their day. With momentum on their side they would have scored from the restart but for a try saving cover run by Courtney forcing the Eccles flying winger to turn inside, just short of Manchester’s try line, and into a last ditch tackle made by Jess J. This was to be the last play of the first period leaving Eccles leading 14-5.

The second period of the match started as a ten-a-side with Michaela and Casey moving to the second row for Manchester. This suited Manchester with their forward domination in the set pieces. From a scrum in the Eccles half Jess J was able to draw the opposing fly half creating a gap for Olivia to run through the Eccles defensive line. Olivia was stopped just short of the try line by the fast covering Eccles winger, however she was able to pop up a pass in the tackle to Jess J in support who ran under the posts for a try on seventeen minutes, duly converted by Olivia.

The match ebbed and flowed for the next few minutes with Eccles seemingly determined not to let their lead slip. One of Eccles quick wingers was able to take advantage of Manchester no longer having Casey playing as covering fullback when she managed to elude a tackle and make a yet another long run in for a try (converted) after twenty-one minutes.

Eccles last try seemed to galvanise Manchester and after some good phase play Chloe S was able to make a break through the Eccles defensive line, eluding all covering tackles to score a try after twenty-six minutes. All of Manchester’s forwards were having an excellent game particularly Rachael with her strong tackling and Jess D with her excellent support play in spite of the energy sapping hot weather.

An injury sustained to one of the Eccles players after receiving a strong tackle from Rachael resulted in the match playing out the last couple of minutes of the period as a nine-a-side. The second period ended with Eccles still managing to hold onto a slender lead of 21-17.

With it all to play for in the last period both teams fought competitively for possession of the ball. Eccles seemed to have adjusted quicker to playing with just three forwards and put Manchester under pressure for the first few minutes. This forced Manchester to try and sustain a high tackle defence. Unfortunately Casey suffered an accidental blow to her head during a tackle and was forced to retire from the match. Eventually Eccles managed to suck in enough Manchester players around a ruck to create space out wide for their winger to score in the corner after thirty-seven minutes. Before the restart yet another Eccles player had to retire from a leg injury so the match resumed as an eight-a-side.

So far this season, especially during 2012, Manchester has showed great resilience when required to grind out a result from close competitive matches. Jess J in her team’s Captain role was soon marshalling a dramatic comeback by Manchester from the brink of defeat. From the restart Jess J seemed to be at every breakdown releasing quick ball to the backline and supporting any breaks. On forty minutes Olivia managed a decisive break through the Eccles defence and in a déjà vu moment was able to pop up a pass in the tackle to Jess J who once again ran under the posts for a try (duly converted by Olivia).

With the score now only 26-24 in Eccles favour and the stadium crowd home support noise level increasing, the match momentum seemed to have turned in Manchester’s favour. Jess J’s personal crusade was still not finished. On forty-two minutes a scrum thirty-five metres out from the Eccles try line afforded her an opportunity to score a superb solo hat-trick try in the match and also secure Manchester a league try bonus point (five tries scored). Noticing that Eccles had weighted their defensive line heavily on one side of the scrum Jess J ran around the blindside and using her speed and natural swerve ability she beat the Eccles scrum half leaving herself with a long run to the Eccles try line. Both of the Eccles quick wingers converged on Jess J’s run to the try line but she was just able to just outpace them and hold on strongly enough during the last desperate tackle attempt.

Manchester for the first time in the match was now leading 29-26. With only a few minutes left the home support noise level increased even further willing Manchester to hold firm (a few post match drinks were needed to lubricate the sore throats of some of Manchester’s more vocal supporters!). All credit to Eccles as they poured pressure on the Manchester try line in an attempt to regain their previously long held lead in the match. However, Manchester inspired by Jess J’s leadership was able to make the crucial tackles when necessary and clear their lines with kicks out to touch by Olivia. A final knock-on by Eccles in the Manchester 22 metre area brought the game to a close earning Manchester yet another hard fought win.

This was a real team effort to secure a win after trailing Eccles for most of the match. All of the Manchester players played their part particularly Casey who took yet another knock for the team! Special mention should go to Jess D for having her best game of the season and Courtney for following up her player of the match award against Tyldesley with yet another fine promising performance in only her second game for Manchester.

Final mention should go to Jess Johnson for possibly the best all round performance by any Manchester player all season. From marshalling the forwards well, using the ball intelligently, passing accurately, breaking and creating space for the backs, supporting players and finally in her role as Captain inspiring the team when attacking or defending, Jess maintained high quality play throughout the whole match. Her hat-trick of tries scored was just the icing on the cake.

The whole match, although played very competitively borne out by a number of player injuries, was conducted in the true spirit of rugby by both teams (including coaches and spectators). Eccles as the newest members of the league should be proud of their improving performances this season and are a welcome addition to the fixture list.

Photos by Alex & Lewis Farrow