Green & Golds see yellow!

Things got underway and despite some early big hits the game was fairly scrappy with the ball being needlessly kicked by both teams. The larger outfit of Eccles had arrived looking to take another Fleetwood scalp and after indiscipline from the home side a quick tap and go caught defenders napping, Eccles scoring a try and conversion. With flanker Watson putting in some big tackles supported by youngster Heer Fleet searched for a foothold in the game but disappointingly nothing really flowed. For all his endeavours Watson departed the game with a nasty gash to his chin so on came the bearded Barnes to help steady the Green and Gold ship.
Fleet were now beginning to increase the tempo and pose some real menace in attack, No.8 Smith was driving forward at every opportunity which was further helped when an Eccles player was sin-binned for a high tackle on young winger Obiorah. Kerr found his kicking boots by slotting a penalty, 7-3 the score. From the next scrum Smith broke from the base beating defenders and scoring a try, Fleet now ahead 8-7. Eccles maintained their pressure and Fleet continued to be penalised, thankfully no further points were conceded. The story of the half was all about Fleet not being able to maintain possession for long enough to do anything with the ball. Things needed to improve in the next 40 minutes.

The start to the second half was nothing spectacular as Fleet seemed to be doing a lot of defending, however from deep in his own territory Obiorah found himself in space with the ball. He did not require an invitation to show his pace, he darted forward beating would be tacklers with ease and blasting his way to the try line to score his first senior try, fly half Mecklenburgh adding the conversion making it 15-7. By this point centre Kerr was watching proceedings from the sin-bin having had a yellow card issued, the ref penalising him for not rolling away from the tackle. Now all at sea and down to 14 men things became slightly worse for the home side, as Fyall followed his team mate seeing yellow from the consistent ref, again for a similar offence to that of Kerr. With only 13 men and the team having extra tackles to make Eccles came back into the game scoring a further try with extras, making it 15-14. Fleet then took the game to Eccles, both backs and forwards dug deep and were duly awarded a penalty which the returning Kerr slotted to make it 18-14. The visitors were playing now for territory and lots of hard work from Fleet was being undone by kicks back down the pitch. Despite this Fleet continued to press, Kirton and Mecklenburgh linked well to set up wave after wave of attack deep in the Eccles 22, eventually the frame of a svelte Maddern powered over for a try, extras added 25-17 now to the good. The tide was by now turning and with moments left to play the best move of the game allowed Mecklenburgh to neatly step inside a couple of defenders before releasing the swift Fyall who raced from inside his own half to score a great try, Kerr adding the conversion making it 32-17. And that was that.

Overall, this was a scrappy affair coupled with too many basic errors from both teams , however the grit and determination that Fleet showed particularly in the second half earned them a hard fought victory. The front row coped well against a big opposition set with young prop O’Hara showing he can mix it at senior level, but again as last week the back row trio of nautical boy Phillips, Maddern and Smith contained the stand out forwards. From a backs perspective youngster Kirton faired well and is improving, Mecklenburgh showed promise at 10 with good hands, Morley again built on last week showing his durability at full-back. After debate in the clubhouse it was agreed between manager Jefferson and skipper Foden that it was talisman Smith who took the accolade of man of the match for his tackling, carrying and busy style of play. Next week Fleet face a tough test when they travel across to Littleborough.

Report by Dan Jefferson