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Eccles sink the leaders

29/11/2001

National Conference Div One - East Leeds 16 Eccles 22

ECCLES pulled off their most impressive victory of the season so far on Saturday, inflicting East Leeds with their first home defeat and knocking them off the top of the table, writes Ken Roberts.

Eccles took the lead in the 12th minute with the only try of the first half. Man-of-the-match Paul Smith fed John McAtee to score between the sticks, leaving Dean Pickup with an easy conversion.

East Leeds forced Eccles to drop out with the first attack of the second stanza, but then went further behind on 44 minutes. McAtee threw a long ball to Paul Viller, who helped it on to the wing where brother Jason touched down.

Leeds were back in the hunt on 51 minutes when Phil Hasty scored a brilliant solo. The Leeds man only lasted six minutes more, however, as he and Paul Viller were shown the red card for fighting.

Twelve minutes from time Pickup dived over by the corner flag. When he landed the conversion from by the touchline Eccles could sense victory.

Leeds refused to lie down though, and Phil Hasty tied the scores with a try and conversion.

On 76 minutes Steve Fearnley was also shown the red card, reducing Eccles to 11 men. But Leeds missed the resulting penalty.

That Eccles on McAtee, from dummy half, scored in the perfect position for Pickup to add the extras.

• ECCLES u16s found themselves 32-0 down by half time at home to Oldham St Anne's, but put in a much-improved second half display.

They still sunk to a 58-0 defeat, although Adrian Delaney was the best defender and Matthew Gregg looked dangerous in attack.