Eccles 30 v Stanley Rangers 16
06.03.10

Third place Stanley Rangers travelled to Eccles but came away with a 16-30 defeat.

Eccles gained the first points in the 15th minute, with a second try from Glynn Watson, goaled by Mike Davies five minutes later. Andrew Muscat then crossed for a brace of tries which put Eccles in control.

Stanley showed their mettle however with a try from scrum-half Matty Firth on the stroke of half time to close the gap to 18-4. When centre Dave Foster cut in for a try just past the hour, goaled by Danny Grice, the game was in the balance.

Rangers came close to narrowing the gap still further when Mark Foster broke clear and Paul Morgan had to pull off a try-saving tackle. This proved to be a pivotal moment in the game and Eccles rallied. Morgan charged over at the other end and Bowden goaled the try to put the home side back in the lead. Substitute Ricky Opensahw added a late try which Bowden convered to seal the game. A consolation try from Dave Foster with a Grice goal gave Stanley more points but it was Eccles who took the two.

This result puts Eccles in top place in the division with Oldham St Annes second and Rangers third. However Stanley do have two games in hand over Eccles.

Eccles: Tries -Bowden, Watson, Muscat (2), Morgan, Openshaw. Goals -Davies, Bowden (2).

Stanley: Tries - Firth, Foster (2). Goals - Grice (2).

Half time: 18-4.