Stockport 8 Lymm 34 Report by Simon Plumb
ON a sunny, chilly, autumnal day Lymm faced slightly less stern opposition than in recent weeks, as they played a declining Stockport team who need to arrest a slide to the lower reaches of this division.
Lymm’s dominance in the set-piece was indicated early on as they started by stealing a line-out. This has to be the smallest pack Stockport has fielded for many years and it showed throughout the afternoon, as Lymm began to exert significant pressure in the scrum also.
However, the home side had the lion’s share of possession in the first half but the back division lacked penetration as Lymm’s defence refused to wilt. This pattern ran through the game and the lateral running of Stockport presented very little threat to the visitors.
Right wing Richard McEvoy had the kicking duties and put Lymm ahead with a penalty after 7 minutes 3-0. His unusual kicking style failed later though after 16 minutes and then came the break Stockport were looking for as their left winger took an inside pass and sliced through to sprint 30m to the line for a surprising lead of 5-3 after 22 minutes.
Stockport then extended this lead after 32 minutes with a penalty for not rolling away, leaving Lymm trailing 8-3. Lymm’s kicking game had not produced anything of note and the travelling support sensed that if they threw the ball about more Lymm would benefit. Andy Kerr replaced Jack Harper just before half time and it was a timely change.
Despite losing fly half Oli Lancaster to a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, Lymm seemed determined to strike back. Constant pressure in Stockport’s 22, facilitated a kick to the right corner, when the ref announced there was still time for a line-out with ‘six seconds to go!’
From the ensuing series of catch and drives replacement Kerr eventually drove powerfully over from close to the line. 8-8 and all to play for as the half time whistle went.
The introduction of bencher Tom Baker at scrum-half in the second half galvanised Lymm, as he became more vocal and added snap to proceedings. With Lymm pressing, with a slight wind now at their backs, Stockport kicked aimlessly out to relieve the pressure. The ball went straight into the arms of, arguably, Lymm’s most devastating open-play runner as McEvoy skipped past several would-be tacklers to score under the sticks, which he converted. 15-8.
The next score would probably decide the winner of this contest and Stockport raised their game, only to be consistently snuffed out time and again by Lymm’s excellent first-up tackling. A superb up and under from Baker was dropped by the defending winger only to be snapped up once again by the ever present McEvoy who went under the sticks and converted his own try again. 22-8.
Stockport had no answer to the brick wall of a defence from Lymm and from a line out on the halfway, the improving Zac Lythgoe collected and was driven 30m deep into the 22. A yellow card to Stockport’s blindside further weakened a wilting team. Two 5m scrums eventually gave Baker the platform he needed to burst over, making it 27-8 with 5 mins to go.
The Lymm set piece dominance and superb tackling of Lymm was characterised by continued pressure, and as Stockport once more cleared their lines with a loose kick, the backs put it through several pairs of hands for Baker to score his second under the posts, for a final score of 34-8.
So, with an added 4 try bonus point Lymm move up 3 places to 7th in the league. If Lymm can maintain such a mean defence, with discipline at the breakdown, and bring back their famous running game, there will be more winning days, home and away, as the season progresses. There is no 1st team game next week but Lymm 2’s are at home KO 2.15 pm.
Team: 1) Mike Auden, 2) Ross White, 3) Jordan Widdrington, 4) Zack Lythgoe, 5) Alex Kaihau, 6) Jack Harper, 7) Jake Ashall, 8) Adam Bray (C), 9) Chris Owens, 10) Oli Lancaster, 11) Richard McEvoy, 12) Tom Bray, 13) Giles Dugdale, 14) Richard Halford, 15) Joe Knowles. Replacements: 16) Dan Horton, 17) Andy Kerr, 18) Tom Baker
