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National Conference One

24/12/2002

DESPITE the inclusion of fit-again Lee Billingham,, Alan Evans, Steve Fernley, David Hedgecock, Chris Smith and Kris Smith, Eccles had a bad day, well beaten.

As if a daunting trip to take on the high-flying Lions wasn't enough, the team's coach broke down and after resuming the journey in a coach without heating on a bitterly cold day they arrived only 15 minutes before kick-off.

This clearly had an effect on the players and they were 20-0 down after only 15 minutes.

But resilient Eccles fought back and on 24 minutes Kris Smith showed tremendous power to haul himself out of a three-man tackle to score next to the post, leaving Dean Pickup an easy conversion.

Woeful defending allowed Featherstone another try, but their final first-half try that made it 30-6, three minutes before half-time, should have been disallowed.

Jimmy Lomax was clearly in distress following a head injury when the referee allowed the ball to be taken from him.

The second half was a different story and Lions' only try on 46 minutes should also have been ruled out as a tackle had been completed, but the player was allowed to pass the ball out afterward.

Eccles' Tommy Harrison had earlier gone over, following some great work by Kris Smith, but the effort was disallowed because of a knock-on.

The last half-hour belonged entirely to Eccles, although they were unable to turn pressure into points.

Their only chance, a Lomax try, was ruled out because of a forward pass.