1st XV Away to Wharfedale – Saturday 22nd March 2025

A friend of our President Varun Maharaj,  Robin Johnson of Wharfedale RUFC requested of us a short piece for the matchday programme, on Lymm Rugby Club’s adventure in the first half of the season, beating all-comers (bar one) and challenging the ‘big dogs’ of the league, Leeds and Sheffield for possible promotion.

Andy Leach, the club treasurer (and unofficial club statistician) wrote the following piece, entitled ‘Dreaming the Impossible?’, outlining how the season has progressed so far as the club dared to dream of possible promotion to Level 3.

Lymm’s dream start to the 2024/25 season to Christmas, comprised 13 wins out of 14 and 65 league points out of a possible 70, putting the club in second place on the table.

This was a remarkable achievement as the club is playing at the highest level in its history, with only one previous season at Level 4 under its belt. It was even more remarkable when you consider that Lymm is a village with a population (per the 2021 Census) of 12,660 – very similar to Wharfedale, which reported a population of 12,170 in mid-2022 – sitting equidistant from the round ball powerhouses of Manchester and Liverpool and adjacent to Rugby League’s heartland.

With the inevitable battle for sporting talent that this geography creates and competing against clubs from the cities of Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, Preston and Chester, how has Lymm been able to reach the heights it has this season?

Most people will quickly point to the culture that exists within the club, that is built on the significant proportion of our players who have progressed to the First XV through the ranks of our own mini, junior and colts rugby – stats show that over the 14 seasons since Lymm was promoted to Level 5, 75% of over 6,500 appearances have been made by “home grown” talent. That’s not to say that we don’t welcome players from beyond our own junior ranks, but it is important that all players buy into the culture and ethos that has been built over many seasons.

It’s also the case that we are happy for players to “chase their dreams” and seek to play rugby professionally at higher levels. Former home-grown players have, and are, plying their trade at Level 3, the Championship, the Premiership (Ross Harrison recently played his 300th match in a Sale Sharks shirt) and at international level, with Dave Strettle, Cameron Redpath and Alex Mitchell all gaining international recognition. In fact, many at Wharfedale may remember Alex Mitchell playing in the 2015 ‘Cock o’ the North’ Colts final here when he totally dominated the match.

However, back to today, and a review of Lymm’s season to date.

The coaching team, headed by DoR Adam Fletcher, was canny, learning much last year, our first season at Level 4. In pre-season the coaching team concentrated on getting the squad, which is broadly the same as last season, super fit. Adam also recruited experienced forwards coach Mark Williams, who has had a significant impact up-front on what has always been a relatively lightweight, but mobile and skilful, set of forwards.

These two factors, combined with Head Coach Andy Davies’s approach to maximising and fine-tuning the attacking prowess of a speedy backline and defence coach Tom Bray’s strict discipline, came together to give the team the edge in the first half of the season.

However, injuries have inevitably taken their toll, and the depth of the squad has been sorely tested since Christmas. Big losses in recent weeks against Fylde, Tynedale, Otley and Leeds have brought the club back down to earth and promotion to Level 3, a clear ambition in December, now looks, how shall we say, less likely! Good to dream though!

Please be aware: Those travelling to Wharfedale on Sauturday, there is a WiFi issue at the club so all money transactions will be CASH ONLY.