Eccles and Douglas Rugby Club served up a gripping, see-sawing encounter at the Gorton St venue, only settled at the very last.
Both sides were searching for a first win in Regional Two North West this season.
Just eight minutes in and Eccles centre Read burst through midfield and Holland converted for 7-0. Douglas are well versed in shaking off the travel legs, but Eccles winger Ackers-Johnson made the defence look all at sea when he carved through for an individual try and 12-0.
His second try stemmed from a hideous bounce from a Douglas point of view, as Ackers-Johnson scooped up a bounced pass and sped over with barely a hand laid on.
Douglas Bounce Back
Holland’s 20th minute conversion looked ominous for 19-0, but Douglas finally threw off the shackles at the end of the half with McCord thundering in at the corner and Snellgrove converting for 19-7.
It was all Douglas after the break with Eccles under the pump and Douglas skipper Snell guiding the flow, and suddenly it was 19-14 after Dentith muscled over for a 45th minute try which Snellgrove converted.
When Martin darted over and Snellgrove added the conversion in the 60th minute for a 19-21 lead, the momentum shift seemed complete.
More so when Douglas number eight Kirkpatrick squeezed over in the right hand corner, and Snellgrove again added the extra’s for a 71st minute 19-28 scoreline.
Cue the see-saw as Eccles loose-head prop Thomas charged over and Parkinson’s 76th minute conversion sailed through the posts for 26-28.
Last Minute Heartbreak
The heartbreak of a 79th minute Eccles winner was administered by man of the match Ackers-Johnson as he burrowed over in the corner to nail the hat-trick, five league points and Eccles climb to 8th.
A yellow card for Oldfield was born of worthy Douglas desperation to rescue the situation moments from time, and Douglas stay 10th courtesy of two bonus points for scoring four tries and finishing within a score.
The finishing score was Eccles 33 – 28 Douglas.
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