Chorley unlucky at Brookfields

ON SATURDAY Chorley entertained Eccles at Brookfields and were unlucky to lose a very hard fought encounter with several regulars missing.

Chorley gave away two early tries with defensive errors as Eccles ominously dominated the first quarter of the match. Chorley slowly began to overcome their slow start and went close to scoring towards the end of the first half, but could not reduce the arrears and turned round ten points to nil down.

In the first few minutes of the second half Chorley opened their scoring when stand-off Dave Nickeas coolly dropped a goal from 30 metres out. This was heralded with a fly past by the Red Arrows Air Display team en route to the Southport Air Show!

Chorley continued to dominate the game and were unlucky not to score as Sean Gustard went close before injury prevented him reaching the line.

As Gustard was on his way to hospital, replacement Martin Browne crossed for a try which Sean Riches converted to level the scores.

Chorley pressed hard and narrowly failed to take the lead as first a penalty and then an attempted drop goal were missed.

As the game looked destined to remain a draw Eccles broke away and scored a try very much against the run of play.

ZThis week's game is away to Oldham, another difficult league game.

ECCLES 2ND XV 17 - CHORLEY RUFC 2ND XV 5

CHORLEY'S second string travelled to Eccles and completely dominated the first half, with Patrick Jones and Steve Powell both narrowly failing to ground the ball when over the line.

Chorley eventually took the lead when Dave Maxwell scored a try. In the second half Chorley lost two players with injury and Eccles took full advantage to run in three tries, one of which was converted.

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