Southport began their 2026/27 league campaign with a spirited performance at Waterloo Road, but an experienced and well-drilled Eccles side ultimately proved too strong as the visitors claimed a 40–20 victory.

The fixture marked Southport’s return to Counties 1 following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign in which they were crowned league champions, winning 16 of their 18 matches. Eccles, meanwhile, arrived on the back of a strong fourth-place finish at this level last season, providing an immediate indication of the challenge awaiting Southport following promotion.

The afternoon carried significance beyond the opening league fixture, with the first home game of the season once again played for the Alan Havard Memorial Trophy, in memory of the much-loved club stalwart whose contribution was instrumental in the growth and development of Southport RFC.

Before kick-off, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Sam Cropper, a former Southport RFC Mini and Junior player who sadly passed away recently.

On an excellent-looking first-team pitch, Eccles took to the field in green, while Southport wore their traditional red, amber and black hoops.

The visitors made an immediate impression. Southport kicked off into the afternoon sun, but Eccles returned possession with real purpose, winger Gavin Ackers-Johnson making an early break to put the home defence under pressure.

That pressure produced the opening score after just four minutes. Eccles fly-half Christopher Fortune found his way over before adding the conversion himself to give the visitors a 7–0 advantage.

Southport responded positively. Their defensive line speed increased and began forcing Eccles into hurried decisions, while a scrum close to the stand gave the home side an opportunity to establish themselves in opposition territory.

A penalty at the breakdown was kicked into the corner, although a handling error prevented Southport from making their first meaningful spell of pressure count.

The breakthrough eventually came in the 15th minute through captain Jake Mann.

Mann chased down the Eccles scrum-half from a scrum, stripped the ball in the tackle and showed great awareness to dive over in the corner. The difficult conversion struck the post, but Southport had reduced the deficit to 7–5.

Eccles quickly demonstrated the quality that had seen them perform strongly at this level the previous season. Powerful carries brought them back towards Southport territory, although a strong tackle followed by an excellent jackal from James Cook earned the hosts an important penalty.

Southport capitalised shortly afterwards.

With play just inside the Eccles 22, Lewis Johnson spotted space around the breakdown and released Mann, who crossed in the opposite corner for his second try of the afternoon. Mann then converted to put Southport ahead 12–7 midway through the half.

The visitors were unfazed.

From a lineout on the Southport 22, number eight Ryley Thornton found a gap in the home defence and powered through for Eccles' second try. Fortune converted to restore the visitors' advantage at 14–12.

Eccles began to enjoy their strongest spell of possession, forcing Southport into a significant defensive effort. Joe Topping was outstanding during this period, repeatedly putting himself in the path of the Eccles attack with a succession of tackles.

Ackers-Johnson threatened again with a weaving run through several defenders before Johnson brought him to a halt with an excellent covering tackle.

Eventually, however, the pressure told.

Centre Marcus Mercer broke through for Eccles' third try and Fortune was again accurate from the tee, stretching the visitors' advantage to 21–12.

Southport refused to allow the half to drift away from them. Strong carries from Luke Fusco, Lewis Caldwell and James Cook took play back into the Eccles half during the closing stages.

When Eccles were penalised, Mann stepped up to land the resulting kick at goal and reduce the deficit to six points.

At 21–15, Southport headed into the interval very much in the contest.

Eccles take control after the break

The opening exchanges of the second half were scrappy, with errors from both teams, but Southport gradually began to build a sustained spell of pressure.

A penalty, followed by additional territory after dissent from Eccles, gave the hosts an opportunity deep inside the visitors' half.

Southport moved through the phases quickly and repeatedly threatened the Eccles line. The visitors defended stubbornly, however, producing turnovers and holding Southport up as the hosts searched for the score their pressure appeared to deserve.

Debutant Issac Trevarton came agonisingly close to a memorable first Southport try when he read an Eccles pass and narrowly missed an interception with open field ahead of him.

Against the momentum of the game at that stage, Eccles then delivered a major blow.

Ackers-Johnson found space and raced away for a long-range try, with Fortune's conversion increasing the lead to 28–15.

Southport's task became more difficult shortly afterwards when Cook was shown a yellow card for a high tackle.

Eccles took advantage of the extra man. With Southport stretched defensively, the visitors moved the ball from one side of the field to the other before Mercer crossed for his second try of the afternoon.

The conversion was missed, leaving Eccles 33–15 ahead.

Southport continued to fight.

As the match entered its final quarter, Fusco secured good lineout possession just outside the Eccles 22 and the hosts began putting together some of their best attacking phases of the afternoon.

Adam Wood, Ollie Benford and Callum Tootle all carried strongly as Southport repeatedly worked their way towards the five-metre line.

The increased pace and intensity of rugby at the higher level was evident, however, with Eccles putting enormous pressure on Southport at the breakdown. The hosts created opportunities but struggled to turn promising field position into points before Eccles were able to clear their lines.

With Cook returning from the sin bin, Southport immediately forced another turnover and continued to attack.

Around the 65-minute mark, Port earned three consecutive lineouts close to the Eccles five-metre line, but once again the visitors' defensive organisation proved difficult to break down.

Eccles then threatened on the counter, only for winger Jonathan Tebbs to produce an important covering tackle before Sam McGlinsky cleverly used an Eccles defender to secure further territory for the home side.

As the clock moved towards full-time, Eccles delivered the score that finally put the contest beyond Southport.

Pressure through the middle created space for the visitors out wide and the Eccles winger raced underneath the posts. Fortune added the conversion to make it 40–15.

Southport nevertheless ensured the final word belonged to them.

Quick thinking from a lineout saw Tebbs combine with Mann before the ball was moved across the backline and into the hands of Nathaniel Barkowski Martins.

Faced with several defenders, Barkowski Martins showed excellent pace and footwork to beat the Eccles cover and race underneath the posts for a deserved Southport try.

With time running out and Southport still searching for a potential four-try bonus point, the conversion was hurried and missed.

There was no time for another opportunity, and the final whistle brought an entertaining opening-day contest to a close at Southport 20–40 Eccles.

Despite defeat, there was plenty for Southport to take from their first league fixture following promotion. For significant periods they matched a side that finished strongly in Counties 1 last season, particularly during an encouraging first half and several sustained attacking spells after the interval.

The step up will inevitably bring greater speed, physicality and pressure around the breakdown, but the performance showed that Southport have the ability to compete as they adjust to life at the higher level.

Jake Mann was named Southport's Player of the Match by match sponsors EFT Systems following his two tries and influential performance, while Gavin Ackers-Johnson received the visitors' award after an impressive afternoon for Eccles.

The result may have brought Southport's long unbeaten home league run to an end, but the performance offered plenty of encouragement as the club begins the next chapter following last season's title-winning campaign.

Full-time: Southport 20–40 Eccles