LYMM Senior Colts made it a magnificent seven as they defeated Caldy to lift the Cheshire Cup and Chester to win the Raging Bull League Cup.
It completed three trophies this season and total of seven over the past two years.
First up was a visit to Stockport to take on Caldy in the Cheshire cup.
After a slightly nervy first 10 minutes which Caldy dominated, Lymm began to secure more ball and better field position culminating in a line out move straight off the training ground from which James Pitcher dived over the whitewash.
Caldy fought back hard and managed to create a mismatch when their enormous prop ran straight at the somewhat smaller Lymm right winger – fearless Lewis Mason took his legs and flattened him – unfortunately the Caldy giant had to leave the field shortly afterwards. Lymm then took control with the forwards securing quick ball, enabling the hard running backs to puncture the Caldy defence resulting in tries for Will Titherington and Ruaidhri Power.
HT: Lymm 19 Caldy 0
The second half continued in a similar vein with Lymm maintaining the upper hand. One of the Caldy players was given a straight red card for a trip which prevented a near certain try. Rather than ending their challenge, this seemed to spur Caldy on and they attacked the Lymm line with renewed vigour. Lymm’s defence held out for the most part although Caldy scored a consolation try in the corner. By this stage Lymm had the match wrapped up with Will Titherington adding 2 further tries to his first half effort and he also notched 3 conversions over the course of the match.
FT: Lymm 31 Caldy 5
So the lads collected their 3rd trophy of the season in front of a large band of travelling support. The celebrations started in the Stockport clubhouse in the afternoon, continued on the coach journey back and then went on into the night back in Lymm.
Following the Cheshire Cup success it was a day of mixed emotions as Lymm Senior Colts ran out onto the beautifully prepared first team pitch at Crouchley Lane in glorious sunshine to play their last match together as a group.
It was the perfect setting for the lads to finish their colts’ careers, playing the Raging Bull League Cup final in front of a large and vociferous crowd against Chester, the team that has been their closest rivals over the last 5 years.
The match itself wasn’t the usual free-flowing rugby fest that we have come to expect, but what it lacked in dynamism it made up for with extreme intensity and tension. Both teams showed real aggression and no quarter was asked or given. The home crowd were starting to become anxious as Chester were matching them in the forwards and snuffing out any of Lymm’s trademark line breaks that have created so many tries this season. As the first half progressed it became clear that this was not going to be a high scoring game and so Chester had first pot at a penalty kick which must have been from 45m out – it had the distance but fell wide as the wind increased. Lymm then won a penalty following a series of infringements at the ruck which Will Titherington slotted over. Just as Lymm seemed to be getting on top, Chester capitalised on a loose carry in their 22 to take the ball up to the other end and score a try – missing the conversion.
HT: Lymm 3 Chester 5
The second half continued in the same vein with both sides hammering into each other. Any forward momentum Lymm built was stifled by superb tackling from Chester. Lymm gratefully won a couple of penalties and Titherington calmly swept the ball between the posts to allow the home crowd to dare to think of victory. However Chester were very much still in it and another break away after an excellent turnover gave them their second score – now it was the Chester fans who thought they had the cup in the bag – 10 points to 9 with only 10 minutes to go. They hadn’t reckoned on the resilience of the Lymm boys who proceeded to throw everything at the Chester line…but Chester had a hand on the trophy and they fought hard to keep Lymm out. The referee called last play and it was a Chester scrum on their own 5 metre line, unfortunately they knocked the ball on before kicking it into touch in an effort to end the match and claim victory – so we were back on the Chester 5m line with this time a scrum to Lymm. The home crowd could barely watch, as Lymm got the ball out to James Pitcher who darted over the line to herald huge celebrations. Will Titherington then knocked over the conversion to seal the win.
FT: Lymm 16 Chester 10
There was a lot of emotion at the end as the lads had given everything to fight back to win, together with the realisation that this was the last time this band of brothers would take to the field together. Life long friendships have been made and many of the boys will continue playing senior rugby together for a long time.
Like a fine wine, these players have improved with age – from winning the odd Plate competition in their mini and junior careers to becoming one of the most successful Colts teams in Lymm’s history. When they first started playing (some of them as early as in 2004) their “home” games were played at various venues all over Lymm, High Legh, Thelwall, Appleton and Moore. But, like the Senior Colts, the facilities at Lymm RFC have been improved dramatically and Crouchley Lane now provides wonderful pitches for teams from all age groups, with further significant improvements to come.
The Senior Colts had amassed an enviable trophy collection over the past 2 seasons:
Raging Bull North West A League Champions 2016 (as Junior Colts)
Raging Bull League Cup Winners 2016 (as Junior Colts)
Cheshire u17 Cup Winners 2016 (as Junior Colts)
Raging Bull North West A League Champions 2017
Raging Bull A League Prelim League Champions 2017
Cheshire u18 Cup Winners 2017
Squad:
George Anderson, Joe Leyland, Luke Butler, Sam Bytheway, Alex Clouser, Luke Critchley, Joe Dowdeswell, Sam Drury, Luke Frampton, Evan Fray, Josh Hamer, Matty Hand, Ross Hodgkinson, Alex Hull, Abdul Khan, Fraser Kirkwood, James Longshaw, Lewis Mason, Jordan McGrath, James Metcalfe, Olly Mullin, James Pitcher, Ruaidhri Power, Rory Riddell, Alex Stewart, Matty Thomas, Lucas Titherington, Will Titherington.
