Lymm 49 – 14 Fylde

Table topping Lymm secure third victory in a row

Lymm entertained Fylde on a warm September afternoon in front of a bumper crowd at Beechwood. With perfect conditions for rugby there was considerable hope and expectation that Lymm could continue their winning start to the season. The corresponding fixture last season had however seen Lymm surrender 20-point lead to the visitors, so any victory was going to have to be hard earned.

In terms of the Lymm line-up, Ralph McEachran returned at prop and Ben Thompson started in the second row. Jack Stride started on the wing replacing the injured Jack Reynolds. First caps from the bench were given to Dan Hunter and Nick Rigby.

The early exchanges saw both sides probing and testing each other, with Fylde enjoying the majority of possession but going nowhere. On ten minutes the deadlock was broken by Nathan Beesley who came up with one of his trademark steals, intercepting and sprinting clear to score under the posts. Tom Shard added the extras to make it 7-0 to Lymm. This was to be the pattern of the day, with Fylde enjoying large spells of possession but becoming frustrated against the fierce and organized Lymm defence, forcing the play and handing Lymm opportunities, which Lymm in-turn took with clinical pace and precision.

Lymm started to enjoy more possession and on twenty minutes added to their tally with a well worked line-out catch and drive, which saw Rob Makin touch down, Shard converted from wide-out to make it 14-0. Fylde came back and spent the next ten minutes attacking the Lymm line, again Lymm’s defence was up to the task, but having failed to clear their lines on couple of occasions, Fylde finally found some reward for their possession with flanker Mike Walton finding space to touchdown under the  posts to make the score 14-7 after thirty minutes.

This woke Lymm up, who came back with the try of the game. From a line-out in midfield Sam Wadsworth made an excellent break, supported by Callum Morris who’s superb delayed pass put Paddy Jennings free to sprint clear and cross the line, with the extras added the score stretched to 21-7. Lymm then dominated up to half-time with the pressure resulting in two Shard penalties. Lymm ended the half camped on the Fylde line but could not find the bonus point score, having to settle for a 27-7 half-time lead. A great half for Lymm, but the dreaded twenty point lead meant nobody in the crowd thought the game was done.

Half-time: Lymm 27 – 7 Fylde

Fylde started the second half dominating possession, but very much like the first, the Lymm defence was ferocious and snubbed out any danger, one to fifteen tackled heroically all day but special mention to Josh Hadland who was like a machine chopping at the Fylde ankles.

Lymm secured the bonus point try fifteen minutes into the second half, Wadsworth latching onto a loose ball and kicking through to allow Beesley to gather and round his opposite number with ease, an uncharacteristic miss of the tee by Shard, saw the score move to 32-7. Soon after Lymm went over again, in similar fashion, another loose ball, coming as a result of intense Lymm pressure, was this time hacked through by stalwart Oli Higginson, before Higginson could gather, a player at the opposite end of his Lymm career, Isaac Millachip was onto the bobbling ball to touch down for his first senior try. Normal service was resumed by Shard from the tee to make it 39-7.

With all nerves finally settled in the Lymm ranks, the final twenty minutes of proceedings petered out into a scrappy affair, Fylde continued to press but Lymm snubbed everything out that Fylde could throw at them. Shard added a penalty and a final conversion, following a quick tap penalty try by Nick Rigby, to take his personal tally to 19 points, and the score to 49-7. The final play of the game saw Fylde close proceedings with a converted try by the winger Ben Turner, as Lymm ran out of numbers for the first time in the afternoon.

Final score: Lymm 49 – 14 Fylde

The victory saw Lymm move to the top of the league with a perfect start to the season. The win was built on an organized and ferocious defence and fast and clinical attack. Big congratulations to the coaching team and players who should be massively proud of all their efforts and performance levels against teams with far greater funding and resources who operate at level 4. Next up is Sheffield Tigers away, where Lymm will hope to continue their winning run.

Director of Rugby, Adam Fletcher commented:

‘Fylde came out of the blocks hard at us but our defence held firm. Josh and Matty were immense during this period. Again, we were super clinical when we had a chance and scored some excellent tries. It was great to be back home, I think the boys put on a great show for the big crowd. Another clean sweep so I expect a few sore heads in the morning. Best wishes to Dave Williamson who broke his arm playing for the Eagles.’

Head Coach, Andy Davies commented:

‘We knew how dangerous Fylde can be. But it’s one thing talking about it and another thing actually stopping it on a Saturday. So massive credit has to go to the boys. They are taking everything being thrown at them on a Tuesday and Thursday and implementing it on match day.

It’s obviously a fantastic start to the season but we’ve been far from perfect, so theres still a lot to work on at training.

Huge congratulations to the 2XV who ground out a win away to Wirral, which is never an easy place to go.

It was another great day for the club with all 3 teams bringing home wins. There was a real buzz at the club yesterday which was awesome to witness and be a part of!’

Team: Ralph McEachran (13), Rob Makin (66), Matty Hand (109), Ben Thompson (31), Josh Maskery (2), Harry Martin (57), Oli Higginson (265), Josh Hadland (40), Cal Morris (40), Tom Shard (136) Paddy Jennings (54), Sam Wadsworth (18), Ste Pilkington (67), Jack Stride (11), Nathan Beesley (69).

Dan Hunter (0), James Pitcher (69), Isaac Millachip (2), Nick Rigby (0), Alfie Simpson (31)

Referee: Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts

Assistant Referees: Simon Harrison, Jono Sidwell-Keeton

4^th Official: Malcolm Kimber

Match Report: Neil Allen

Photos: John Cartwright

Nathan Beesley scores his interception try

Rob Makin scores from a driving maul

Paddy Jennings scores for Lymm

Flanker Isaac Millachip scores his first try for Lymm

Nick Rigby scores his 1st Lymm try