by Jim Knowles
LYMM moved up to second in the table after proving too hot for newly promited Doncaster Phoenix on their first visit to Beechwood, running out victorts by 54-14.
Doncaster have close links with the Championship team Doncaster Knights and share their facilities. Their rapid rise in recent seasons from the Yorkshire Leagues, via League North East One, is indicative of their ambition to track their “Knights” neighbours to higher levels.
A late change to the Lymm squad saw Oli Higginson moving to centre, in place of the injured Michael Floyd and Senior Colt, Will Titherington coming onto the bench. Lymm kicked off with the advantage of a strong end to end wind at their backs and both teams made early handling and kicking errors, as they adjusted to the wind. The visitors showed early confidence when taking a quick throw to relieve pressure on their line following Nolan’s kick to the corner. Early set scrums demonstrated Doncaster’s strength and ability to use their bigger and more mature forwards against Lymm’s younger, lighter but more agile counterparts. This contrast became more apparent as the game evolved and was a major factor in the final outcome.
Solid defence, has become an established feature of Lymm’s game. The back row of Mullarkey, Watson and Bray were a constant menace to the visitors and their early attacks, based on their greater share of possession, were repulsed. Lymm’s first attack started, surprisingly, at a scrum won in mid field and a break by Richard McAvoy, who played excellently throughout as a centre rather than in his usual wing position. A well timed pass to Cormac Nolan gave the winger a try scoring run towards the posts to leave himself an easy conversion kick (7-0). The start for him, of a memorable afternoon, with a personal tally of 29 points, comprised of a hat trick of tries, four conversions and two penalties.
From the restart Doncaster won possession and after a few phases used their forwards’ strength to drive a maul for a try in the corner making it 7-5 after 15 minutes and the prospect of long hard afternoon for the home team. Lymm responded to this threat with further solid defensive work that frustrated the visitors into conceding a penalty giving Nolan, from 45 metres, three more points (10-5). Doncaster responded with another spell of possession dominance and stole a Lymm line out to keep them on the attack. Eventually they were rewarded with a penalty and reduction of Lymm’s lead to a worryingly small margin (10-8).
As half time loomed, Nolan used the wind skilfully to kick a penalty into the corner and gain a 5 metre line out. The subsequent catch and drive was well executed and the ever alert scum half, Tom Baker, got the try and gave Nolan his chance to add the goal with a perfectly struck kick from wide out (17-8). The Doncaster restart kick failed to make the 10 metre line and having elected for a scrum Lymm then gained a penalty. With the wind behind them, they elected to go for goal and Nolan sent the ball flying between the posts from the halfway line (20-8). This gave his team a more comfortable lead only to have this reduced by another penalty from the visitors, for offside, to undermine the home team’s outstanding defensive work, in repelling the visitors last big effort before the half time whistle.
Using the wind advantage, Doncaster kicked off deep into Lymm territory and ominously Lymm lost a line out on their own throw. A penalty was awarded giving the visitors three points and an encouraging start (20-14). But it was Lymm who now raised their game. Ollie Higginson, broke the defensive line from well inside the Lymm half out on the left, switching the ball to Joe Knowles going right. This promising attack was stopped by a penalty offence but winning the subsequent line out kept Lymm on the attack and resulted in a try for winger Chris Owens (25-14).
Coach Fletcher made a number of rolling changes. Jake Ashall came on into the back row, causing more havoc for the visitors with some crunching tackles and turnovers; Higginson went into the back row and Tom Bray took his place at centre with Senior Colt, Will Titherington making his 1st XV debut at Fly-half. Lymm were now playing with greater confidence and establishing a pattern of play that was too fast for Doncaster. Higginson exemplified this making a strong break to leave a trail of would be defenders in his wake before passing to give Nolan a try in the left corner, leaving him a conversion kick into the wind which glanced in off the post. (32-14). Skipper Adam Bray, from the restart broke up field, where Lymm stole a line out giving Tom Baker another try (37-14).
By now Doncaster were clearly struggling with the pace of the game and consequently making more mistakes, giving further welcome and well taken try scoring opportunities to Chris Owens and Ollie Higginson (47-14). With the clock ticking down, Lymm made a final sweep up the field and following a number of phases, Richard McEvoy scored the final unconverted try (54-14).
Coach Adam Fletcher made good use of replacements and praised his players willing to play out of their preferred position to accommodate for players unavailable through injury and for injuries during the game. Fetcher commented “a special thanks to Joe McGrail for outstanding pre-season warm up matches and 4 league games, we look forward to having him back when he returns from London University at Christmas.”
This win elevates Lymm to second place in the League but facing Kendal, buoyant from an away win at third placed Wirral, will be challenging on the Cumbrian’s home turf next Saturday KO 3pm.
Squad: 1) Dan Horton, 2) Ross White, 3) Jordan Widdrington, 4) Joe McGrail, 5) Will Baldwin, 6) Joe Watson, 7) Sam Mullarkey, 8) Adam Bray (C), 9) Tom Baker, 10) Tom Bray, 11) Chris Owens, 12) Oli Higginson, 13) Richard McEvoy, 14) Cormac Nolan, 15) Joe Knowles, 16) Jake Ashall, 17) Will Titherington, 18) Mike Auden.
