1st XV Away to Otley – Saturday 15th February 2025

Lymm make another trip across the Pennines on Saturday, this time to Otley’s Cross Green ground – a place etched in the memories of diehard rugby afficionados of a certain age as the venue of the North’s historic 1979 victory over the All Blacks.  It is also somewhere dear to the hearts of the older generation of Lymm members as the place where, a year earlier in 1978, Lymm’s “David” had downed Otley’s “Goliath”.

Since those days there had been no meaningful fixtures between the clubs until the 2021/22 season.  In recent years there have been 5 league fixtures between the clubs, with Otley currently sitting at 3 wins to Lymm’s 2.  Whilst Lymm have won the last 2 encounters, including the reverse fixture at Crouchley Lane earlier this season, the Yorkshire fortress has yet to be breached.

The equivalent fixture last season was a real topsy turvy affair.  Otley came out strongly whilst Lymm were still “on the bus”, registering 4 tries and securing a bonus point within the first 18 minutes.  Lymm then found their grove scoring 5 tries by the 55th minute to lead – only for Otley to roar back with 2 late outstanding tries to claim the win.  If anything approaching this is produced by the two teams on Saturday, the spectators will have had their money’s worth….and both sets of coaching staff will no doubt be looking for the defibrillator!

Meanwhile the 2nd XV are away to Rochdale KO 2pm and Lymm Eagles are at Home to Liverpool Medical School KO 2:15pm.