Lymm 23-17 Cleckheaton. Report by Jim Knowles.
Perfect conditions for rugby, children waving their England World Cup flags and spectators eager to see their teams improve on their early season form, set the stage for Lymm’s home match with Cleckheaton in National League 3 North.
It was anticipated that the winless Yorkshire visitors would see Lymm, with one win and two narrow defeats, as a target for a first victory.
Equally Lymm saw this game as a chance to get back to winning ways.
There were some changes to the team from the previous week, Dan Horton made a start at loose-head prop; Giles Dugdale returned at centre; Mike Auden, Richard Halford and Aaron Rasheed made up the bench.
An early penalty kick to touch, a well-executed line out and swift attack moving the ball wide was frustrated by a Lymm handling error. This was a pattern that was frequently repeated but reflected Lymm’s intention to play an expansive game.
Cleckheaton got the first score in contrasting manner. Attacking down the middle of the field with aggressive running and close passing they tested the Lymm defence until a penalty was conceded.
They found touch in the corner and got the try from a well-executed catch and drive, followed by a well struck conversion (0 – 7).
This encouraging start sparked a sustained period of attacks from the visitors but the Lymm defence was equal to the challenge.
A penalty helped to get Lymm into opposition territory and a line out steal was followed by good ball retention as the home side tested the visitors defence.
Eventually, Tom Bray broke the line and set Richard McEvoy on a powerful run and the try was only prevented when he was just forced into touch, as he dived for the line at the corner.
Lymm, playing the more adventurous game, met resolute defence which forced handling errors. Cleckheaton attempted to relieve pressure by long kicks but found full back Joe Knowles willing to return kicks with interest or run the ball out and link with centres Bray and Dugdale.
Lymm’s efforts were rewarded through a well taken penalty by Cormac Nolan (3-7). Lymm were awarded a penalty from the restart and swiftly returned to the attack from good line out possession.
This gave the backs the opportunity to perfectly execute the game plan of making space for the wings. McEvoy was the beneficiary but Nolan’s well struck conversion attempt shaded just wide (8-7).
The second quarter largely featured handling errors, poorly judged or executed passes and interceptions. Both sides were equally culpable.
One of the best moments in this otherwise torpid period was a pick up and drive from a scrum by Adam Bray showing that Lymm could use route one as an alternative to the expansive game. Also free from blame in the Lymm ranks were half backs Tom Shard and newcomer Ollie Lancaster who are developing a growing understanding.
Tom has earned his place through the Lymm system, whilst Ollie, making his second appearance at fly half, had been out of the game for a while but previously played for Harrogate.
HT 8 – 7
The home spectators’ hopes of having more to cheer in the second half were not met in the early stages, apart from an early run by Dugdale who was nearly over in the corner.
The first half pattern of play was soon established, but relief came midway through the half when good line out possession initiated a sweeping left to right movement ended in a successful penalty kicked by Nolan (11 -7).
Cleckheaton gained and kept possession from the restart. When awarded a penalty they spurned a fairly easy kick at goal for a 5 metre line out. The first catch and drive was repelled but resulted in another penalty which brought a try but no conversion and the visitors were back in front (11- 12).
Lymm attacked from the restart and a good run by McEvoy got Lymm in a position for Lancaster to attempt a drop goal. He collected the ball when it was charged down and kept the movement going. This at least amused the spectators who were feeling somewhat short of entertainment.
Cleckheaton worked their way into the Lymm half and got a penalty which predictably they kicked to gain another 5 metre line out. The catch and drive brought a scrum, then another line out and the seemingly inevitable try (11-17).
Now in the closing minutes of such a dull game came drama and excitement. From the restart Lymm won a scrum on the Cleckheaton 22, Lancaster astutely put a kick to the left corner behind the rush defensive line for McEvoy to get the try and Nolan kept his nerve to convert from the touch line (18-17).
It then became the Nolan show. In the final seconds after the restart, he chased his own kick from the half way, collected a difficult bouncing ball and scored in the same corner but this time, hardly surprising, he missed the conversion.
FT 23 – 17
The final whistle brought great relief for Lymm but reflections on what might have been for gallant Cleckheaton. The Lymm coaches acknowledged some of the team’s recent short comings but are determined to continue developing their ambitious plans for fifteen man rugby. Next Saturday, Lymm are away at Wirral RUFC.
Team: 1) Jordan Widdrington; 2) Ross White; 3) Dan Horton; 4) Alex Kaihau; 5) Zak Lythgoe; 6) Joe McGrail; 7) Jake Ashall; 8) Adam Bray (C); 9) Tom Shard; 10) Ollie Lancaster; 11) Cormac Nolan; 12) Giles Dugdale; 13) Tom Bray; 14) Richard McEvoy; 15) Joe Knowles; SUBS: 16) Mike Auden; 17) Aaron Rasheed; 18) Richard Halford
