LYMM came into this game with a burgeoning confidence, the result of back to back wins either side of the Christmas break as they beat Kendal 18-14 in a close encounter.
The previous meeting of the two sides had been a tough encounter for Lymm, and that defeat marked the start of a bit of a slump for them.
Kendal too had undergone a recent slump in form, and so with just two points separating the sides this game would have some poignancy.
The visitors began the game the stronger, and it became clear very early on in the match that they planned to go through their opponents rather than around them. They used a very effective rucking and mauling game to build some early pressure on the Lymm line. Their reward came with a penalty for offside just five metres out. With a clear belief in their forward game they chose to scrum rather than kick and patiently drove over to take the lead, 0 v 5. The conversion was good, 0 v 7.
Lymm responded brightly, and through a very good restart kick managed to build pressure of their own in the Kendal half. Whilst this never got them near the try line, it did give them a penalty for a high tackle just inside half way. Cormac Nolan took full advantage of a very stiff breeze to open the home sides account, 3 v 7.
The wind would continue to work in Lymm’s favour with Kendal finding it very hard to find any distance with their kicks. Line outs too were a lottery, and Lymm took advantage of the predicament the visitors were in when lock Joe Watson broke the defence and ran 30 metres into Kendal territory. Now on the front foot deep in the opposition half Lymm put together a fine move that saw centre Rich McEvoy in space on the right wing. He finished well to give Lymm the lead, 8 v 7. A difficult conversion was missed.
Kendal, lead by influential half back Weightmann, responded immediately through their potent tight game. A succession of Lymm penalties followed, and they won a line out near Lymm’s line. Jordan Widdrington was yellow carded for taking the man in the air. The visitors however declined the penalty kick and went to the corner. Their line out was again unsound and Lymm were able to relieve the mounting pressure.
A feature of the recent improvement in Lymm’s fortunes has been a better kicking game. Cormac Nolan,relishing his role at full back, and his former colts colleague Tom Shard at scrum half both kicked astutely throughout. The ability to clear the ball and play rugby in the opposition’s half has been missing for Lymm at times this season, but was a significant factor here.
From being under the cosh in their own territory, Lymm were able to add to their tally. Another penalty in front of the posts saw Nolan again make full use of the wind behind him to take Lymm 11 v 7 ahead.
Kendal came back at Lymm with their power game once more. Zak Lythgoe and Jordan Widdrington among others were getting through a massive amount of work at the ruck, but Kendal continued to move slowly forward. An excellent steal by Ollie Higginson saved Lymm when Kendal were looking their most dangerous, and again Lymm could clear into Kendal’s half.
A final attack by the home side, built on strong running infield by young winger Lucas Titherington, faltered with a knock on a few feet from the goal.
Half time 11 v 7.
The planned half time entertainment fly past by the Red Arrows had to be hastily changed, due to them being double booked (or Lymm’s entertainment budget being smaller than planned. You decide!). Necessity is the mother of invention though, and Lymm can always adapt!
However, the rather unedifying sight of Beer Festival organizer Oz Pennington dressed as Biggles, riding a mobility scooter with a 14-foot banner trailing behind (which proclaimed ” Lymm Beer Festival, 10th February, only £5 entry on door)), whilst making aeroplane noises with his mouth was probably not our finest hour.
The second half began with more clever kicks for territory from Shard, and more line out troubles for Kendal. A scrappy phase of play was tidied up by Kendal, and they once more put Lymm under prolonged stress. Lymm have seen pleasing improvements defensively recently and despite the quality of the Cumbrians attack they could not cross the line.
The game went back to being a contest around half way. Kendal enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but Lymm looked threatening on the counter attack. Both teams ended most attacks with errors but the conditions were now far from pleasant and handling was becoming a challenge in itself.
At times Lymm rode their luck, but Kendal had their own issues, particularly the line out where Higginson was causing them all sorts of problems.
The stalemate at the half way line was broken when Rich McEvoy despite falling, made a finely judged kick into the space behind Kendal’s defence. Kendal once more fluffed their line out, handing Lymm a real opportunity to add to their lead. However, Lymm’s line out was equally poor. The visitors number 8, Downham somehow came up with ball on Lymm’s side of the lineout and charged into the acres of space down field. He was stopped at last just 18 metres away from scoring.
Kendal used this foray in to Lymm’s 22 to mount another forward driven assault. Lymm defended bravely but were soon penalised, and Kendal used their power in the scrum to turn the screw. Lymm were penalised twice for driving up in the front row. Each time the visitors chose to scrum again. The third scrum saw Lymm get the upper hand but Weightman at 10 used his experience to move the ball away from the scrum and chip a well weighted kick behind the Lymm defence for his team mate to pounce on and bring the score to 11 v 12. A simple conversion extended the lead to 11 v 14.
Kendal were starting to exert a bit of a stranglehold on the game, with the spaces available to Lymm narrowing as the minutes ticked by. Andy Davies was moved to his usual scrum half role, whilst Will Titherington came on at 10 in an attempt to find a way through, but the ball remained very much stuck in the midfield.
Lymm were awarded a penalty from long range for a high tackle, which reduced Kendal to 14 men, but Nolan could not find the distance into the cold wind.
Soon after new comer Ali Sutherland, and winger Joe Denman combined to win the ball back for the home side. Lymm set up their counter attack and a deft pass from Davis found Tom Bray on an excellent line. He took full advantage of a three on one down the left hand side and his pass found Nolan. Nolan chipped the ball forward and retrieved to score. Some discussion among the supporters of both sides about a possible forward pass in the execution of the try, was stoically summed up by a Kendal supporter ” it is a try because the referee has said it is “.
Lymm now held a slender 16 v 14 lead, but Nolan’s outstanding conversion from the wing into the wind made sure Kendal would need to score a try to take the spoils. 18 v 14.
The game ended with both sides forcing the game in their desperate attempts to secure the win. However, Kendal could not add anything to their score and Lymm took the spoils, 18 v 14.
This was an enjoyable clash between two sides of contrasting styles and personnel. Unusually any result would have been a fair one. Both sides, each in their own way, did enough to win and a draw would have been a fair reflection. Both teams excelled defensively, with Lymm’s pack all battling ferociously against bigger opponents. In the end however, the penalties scored by Lymm and turned down by Kendal might have been the difference.
The win saw Lymm leapfrog Kendal into their customary seventh place, and face sixth placed Billingham in their next match. Coach Fletcher and his team will be hoping the winning run continues.
TEAM; Dan Horton, Adam Bray, Jordan Widdrington, Joe Watson, Will Baldwin, Jake Ashall, Ali Sutherland, Oli Higginson, Tom Shard, Andy Davis, Lucas Titherington, Tom Bray, Richard McEvoy, Joe Denman, Cormac Nolan SUBS: James Yates, Will Titherington, Zak Lythgoe
