Trafford MV top of the tree for Christmas 2023

By Wilf Dooley

Trafford MV Rugby Club can celebrate this Christmas after spending 2023 unbeaten at home and losing only one league game all year.

Sitting 9 points clear of chasing clubs Littleborough and Sefton the players can rest up before taking on the challenges of the business end of the season once 2024 gets underway.

Traffords final game of 2023 saw them travel to the Wirral to face ambitious New Brighton in front of a large home crowd. The game began well for Trafford as early pressure forced a penalty out of the defending home team which scrum half Pat Eccles comfortably completed 0-3.

New Brightons large pack showed early dominance and caused problems for Trafford which resulted in a try in the wide left corner, the angle proving too much for the conversion 5 – 3 to New Brighton.

Trafford were failing to find any early form and concede another try in the same wide left corner, the conversion failing again 10 – 3 to New Brighton.

Trafford battled hard to keep themselves in the contest and it was Irish full back Eanna Glynn who hits a good line for MV and strides in under posts. Pat Eccles converts easily to draw level for a 10 – 10 score-line going into the half-time break.

The second half opened as the first with Pat Eccles nudging Trafford ahead with a penalty which glanced in off the upright to up the pressure on the expectant home side cheered on by the intense home crowd 10-13 to Trafford MV.

Some cracks were starting to show in the home side as they conceded at penalty try and indiscipline in their game was coming to the fore 10-20 to TMV.

The travelling Ultra’s in the TMV now had something to shout about and their support was evident. And the home side responded as the Trafford defence slipped off a tackle for New Brighton to split the defence and score under posts and convert their only successful kick of the game 17 – 20.

Both sides were feeling the pressure of the game and the referee was kept busy handing out 3 yellows to the home side and 2 yellows to Trafford (New Brighton could count themselves lucky not to be punished more severely as dissent prevailed). It was to be Trafford the closed off the game as the stronger team and it was player of the match Eanna Glynn that scored the decisive try by outflanking the covering defence as good handling created the vital space.

The conversion attempt was missed but Trafford MV had done enough to secure this valued result 17 – 25.

Hard fought win’s like this are testament to the hard work being done by coaches Brian Collier and Joe Clark and the players on the training paddock. Good training numbers and a commitment to attend sessions are paramount to the success being earned on match days. The players can now take a well earned break and prepare themselves for their next League encounter on Jan 6th at home against De La Salle.

Trafford MV 2nds lost be a single point 23-24 to Littleborough 2nds and the 3rds also fell short 5-17 against Congleton 2nd XV. Trafford MV Ladies also rounded off a great first half of the season on top of their League with an emphatic 0-73 away win over Ormskirk Ladies. The Trafford MV girls also had 2 players selected for the Lancashire U18s Girls vs Yorkshire Girls, Lyanne Chung and Sinead Meagh were on the victorious 48 – 36 Lancashire side at MacPherson Park. 

Trafford MV wishes all it’s friends and supporters a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year