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Eccles lose their league opener

28/ 8/2008

ECCLES and Salford Juniors kicked off their National Conference League second division campaign with a 32-10 home defeat to Heworth.

And, based on Saturday’s performance, it is going to be a long, hard season for the Roosters.

With John McAtee banned for the first four games of the season and with Danny Lancashire on holiday, the club have no specialist scrum halves in the side. And they are also playing without a recognised stand off.

Without any half backs, Eccles’ attacking options are very limited. They do have several players to return from holidays and injuries but the current team is very young and inexperienced.

There is no lack of commitment from the players and they all gave 100 per cent in Saturday’s game. But Heworth deservedly took the two points back to York after enjoying their first ever victory against Eccles.

The Roosters started the game well and appeared to be in control of proceedings early doors. But after Sean Watson had come close to touching down Steve Barry’s high bomb on 10 minutes, Eccles conceded three tries in a disastrous 20-minute spell to trail 20-0 on the half-hour mark.

Eccles played better from then on in, scoring tries via Jack Chapman and Dave Critchley. But they never looked likely to claw their way back into the game.

Adam Taher kicked a goal for Eccles and Sean Watson made his Roosters debut.

Meanwhile, Eccles’ under-17s side trounced Blackpool Scorpions 48-0 in a friendly challenge match on Sunday.

Their try scorers in the home game were Payden Candland (4), Stefan Leigh (2), Christian Cooper, Daniel Farrelly, Christian Higgins and Matthew Gilligan.

Liam Dodds (2), Korie Higginbottom and Jay Paul all added goals.