Lymm 26 – 0 Wharfedale

Lymm stay top with windswept win

The most important part of the afternoon was the tribute to a true gentleman, and club legend, Tommy Hyland. We will miss you Tommy.

Lymm once more had rejigged the midfield with the absence of centre Steve Pilkington with a knee injury. Jack Stride moved to the centre and Harry Reay made his debut on the wing.

Lymm had two chances within 5 minutes, when after an attack that involved most of the back line they won a penalty. The lineout maul created space on the left wing for Paddy Jennings, but he was judged to have had a foot in touch as he dived to score. The referee called play-back for a penalty offence in the build-up.

From the lineout this time the ball stayed in the maul and back row Seb Kelly was able to shepherd the ball over the line – 5 – 0. Jack Reynolds converted a difficult effort into the stiff wind. 7 – 0.

The weather now worsened and the ink on this reporter’s notebook pages worsened too. Wharfedale had long periods of possession but were unable to make any real progress into Lymm territory, with the Lymm front rowers being particularly active in tackling.

Lymm had a couple of near breaks through No 8 Oli Higginson and centre Sam Wadsworth but the ball was clearly very slippy and knock-ons were inevitable. A yellow card for repeated infringement gave Lymm a brief numerical advantage, but Wharfedale were not noticeably impaired by the situation and the home side could not take advantage.

Towards the end of the half Wharfedale made a couple of clever 50/22 kicks that saw them gain some territory but Lymm’s defence was resolute and the Yorkshiremen’s efforts came to nought.

Half Time: Lymm 7 – 0 Wharfedale

The second half saw Lymm again use their new secret weapon, the maul, to get their second try. A penalty on half way was kicked excellently to within metres of the try line and from the lineout Rob Makin was able to dot down again in an unstoppable maul. The conversion was missed, 12 – 0.

The visitors now had the lion’s share of possession, spending ages 15 metres from Lymm’s line. A relentless stream of penalties and scrums made it seem inevitable that Wharfedale must score, but they eventually dropped the ball and a fine kick by scrum half Cal Morris, assisted by the wind, flew down field and nestled in Wharfedale’s in-goal area, forcing them into a goal-line drop-out and finally giving Lymm territory.

They couldn’t build on this however, and Higginson was yellow carded too. Wharfedale continued to try and breach Lymm’s defence but to no avail, and Lymm could not secure possession.

The next score was a bit of individual genius. When the visitors dropped the ball just in their own half, Sam Wadsworth was on hand to pick it up, then carve his way through the Wharfedale defence and score to the right of the posts, 19 – 0.

The Lymm supporters were now thinking of yet another try bonus point game, having moments earlier just hoped for a win. As tempers began to fray, Lymm were awarded a penalty for the fracas as they scored so had the penalty kick to restart. The game was becoming more open and a bit chaotic at points.

It was another kick from their own half into Wharfedale’s in-goal that would lead to the bonus point try. The ball looked destined to roll dead but kicked up at the last minute, tricking the full back who knocked it on. Some Lymm fans of a more Hibernian persuasion sensed the hand of Tommy!

From the ensuing 5m scrum it took just two quick phases for replacement Tom Manaton to hit an acute line and dive over at the post, the conversion good, 26 – 0.

There were further contretemps before the whistle finally drew the game to an end, and let everyone rush away in search of somewhere dry.

Wharfedale will be disappointed as the result in no way reflected how competitive they had been. However Lymm is a team that clearly believes the old adage that the best offence is a great defence.

Lymm remain top of the league with a five point lead over second placed rivals Sheffield, who they play away on 1^st December, in what will be both a major challenge and an opportunity to create some daylight between these two very good sides.

Forwards coach Mark Williams commented after the game,

“Once again our Forwards played a huge part in our win, with a notably exceptional performance at the lineout. Another two maul tries, accompanied by disruption to Wharfedales lineout, proves again that despite not being the most physically imposing pack in the league, we are one of the most clinical”

Team: 1. Ralph McEachran (17) 2. Rob Makin* (75) 3. Matty Hand* (118) 4. Ben Thompson (40) 5. Rhys Lilly* (61) 6. Seb Kelly (5)7. Josh Hadland* (47) 8. Oli Higginson* (274) 9. Cal Morris (49) 10. Jack Reynolds (26) 11. Paddy Jennings* (63) 12. Sam Wadsworth* (27)13. Jack Stride (19) 14. Harry Reay (1) 15. Nathan Beesley (Capt) * (78).

Bench: 16. Ben Lilley (8) 17. James Pitcher* (78) 18. Samir Tahraoui (12) 19. Ethan Kermode (7) 20. Tom Manaton (10).

Referee: Gavin Jones

Match Report: David Fernyhough

Rob Makin for his first from a rolling maul

Rob Makin scores again from a rolling maul

Sam Wadsworth scoring from 40 yds out

Tom Manaton with the bonus try