Lymm 22 – 35 Billingham
1st Team Match Report | Saturday March 15 2025
Lacklustre Lymm get just deserts
Lymm entertained old friends from Billingham on a warm spring afternoon at Beechwood. Lymm have shared their journey through the leagues with Billingham and both clubs share many similarities in terms of ethos and approach to the game and its role in the community. With Billingham precariously positioned at the bottom of the league pre-match chat expressed the hope that the friendship would continue and we would still be meeting each other next season.
The Lymm line up had a patched-up feel, with Josh Hadland out injured adding to the roster of absent key players, which now includes Matty Hand, Oli Higginson, Tom Shard and Ste Pilkington, amongst others.
From the start the game was very flat with little of any interest from either side to get the crowd animated. Mistakes from Lymm prevented any continuity and the game meandered along until the 30 minute mark when Joe Higgins touched down for Lymm from a driving maul, Jack Reynolds added the extras. Billingham went up the other end and immediately replied to make the score 7-7. Any hope that this would wake up Lymm from their slumber were soon dashed as Billingham scored again to make it 14-7. The final play of the half saw the only bit of skill in a forgettable first forty, as Callum Morris put through an exquisite chip kick for Reynolds to run on to and touch down. With the conversion missed, the half time score was 14-12 to Billingham.
Half Time: Lymm 12 – 14 Billingham
It was hoped that the second half could only get better. It didn’t. Lymm’s play continued to be error strewn both collectively and individually, as they huffed and puffed but went nowhere. As Lymm looked for a spark, play became disjointed with individuals going alone and getting picked off. Billingham took advantage of Lymm’s generosity and kept the scoreboard ticking over, taking an unassailable 35-12 lead with 5 minutes to go, via an intercept try which summed up Lymm’s afternoon. To add further insult Reynolds, who had been the one bright spark for Lymm, left the field to compound the injury woes.
With the game over Lymm ran in two late tries scored by Nathan Beesley and Joe Senior to at least bring some respectability and a bonus point.
Final score Lymm 22, Billingham 35 and few in the crowd could remember a performance as flat as this for a long time. The hand of friendship was certainly offered to Billingham by Lymm, in their fight for survival, probably a little over generously as things turned out.
Final score: Lymm 22 – 35 Billingham
Director of Rugby, Adam Fletcher commented:
‘Full credit to Billingham they came with loads of energy and emotion and they executed their game plan well. We lacked accuracy throughout the match and at this level if you keep coughing the ball up you will be punished.
We just need to keep working and keep tight as a group. We are still 3rd in the league, I think we all need to take stock and remember how far we have come this season. I’m sure we will bounce back with a performance against Wharfedale.’
Team: Joe Higgins (24), Rob Makin* (86), Ben Lilley (16), Ben Thompson (48), James Yates* (132), Rhys Lilley* (71), George Atherton* (3), Ethan Kermode (15), Cal Morris (60), Alfie Simpson* (38), Paddy Jennings* (73), Sam Wadsworth* (35), Joe Senior* (33), Nathan Beesley* (85), Jack Reynolds (35).
Bench: Dan Hunter (11), James Pitcher* (89), Isaac Millachip* (11), Josh Maskery (5), Tom Manaton (19).
Referee: George Ounsley
Assistant Referees: Paul Hill and Liam Taylor
4th Official: Malcolm Kimber
Match Report: Neil Allen