Lymm hold on for impressive win

FOR the second home game in a row, Lymm almost let a large first half lead slip but again their energy levels and commitment saw them hold on for an impressive 32-28 victory over Firwood Waterloo.
Waterloo arrived at Beechwood unbeaten so far this season, and facing a Lymm side markedly different from the one that beat Westoe last week. However the recall of the prodigal pair Giles and Emmitt, alongside home debuts for former colts Harper and Rasheed ably filled the gaps left by the unavailable. Indeed Rasheed became the 12th player from the Cock o the North winning colts sides of 2012 and 2013 to pull on a 1st XV shirt.
The early skirmishes suggested Waterloo would pick up a bucketful of points from the boot of their fly half, Reeve. He kicked an impressive 50 yard penalty to give the visitors a 3 point lead. Lymm responded with a kick through from Dave Williamson that lead to a Lymm scrum on the Loo 20. The ball was fed to Luke Emmitt, whose skilful off load fed Tom Bray who in turn off loaded to Tom Baker for a score under the posts. Cormac Nolan converted, 7-3.
Waterloo responded with another penalty to take the score to 7-6. In a penalty strewn game Lymm had the next opportunity but Nolan was unable to reach the posts from distance. However he didn’t have to wait long for another attempt as Giles Dugdale deflected the re-start kick, giving Lymm possession again. A penalty ensued and Nolan added the 3 points. 10-6.
Lymm were again given possession by a Loo error but could not capitalise on it losing a scrum on their opponents’ 22 metre line.
Loo were beginning to find success attacking the right hand side of Lymm’s defence and came close a number of times. One attack was looking increasingly likely to result in a score for the Merseysiders but Nolan intercepted the scoring pass and raced the length of the pitch for an excellent try. The conversion was missed, 15-6.
Waterloo then had a number of kickable penalties in the Lymm half, (especially given Reeves opening kick) but surprised a number of those watching by opting for the kick to the corner for the line out. Indeed they had to settle for the 3 points when Lymm again got caught for infractions at the ruck, with Emmitt being yellow carded. 15-9.
A scrappy run in to the end of the half saw no further score.
The second half started with yet another penalty, this time for Lymm, which Nolan converted to give the home side a 18-9 lead. Soon after Adam Bray took advantage of a Loo knock on and popped the ball out to brother Tom. The deputising fly half kicked through with the outside of his boot perfectly for Mark Wells to collect the ball and finish clinically for another Lymm try. Nolan again added the extras, 25-9.
Waterloo responded with a clear confidence in their ability and took full advantage of the tsunami of penalties that seemed to occur any time a player went into the breakdown. Again eschewing a kick able effort they set up a line out on Lymm’s 5 metre line. With a clear belief in their plan they scored with a ten man rolling maul. With the conversion successful the score went to 25-16.
Loo’s backs had not had much chance to express themselves but with centre Payne and full back Master coming to the fore, Lymm were starting to become stretched. Predictably Loo were soon rewarded by this more expansive approach and Master took advantage of Lymm not numbering up correctly at a scrum to score a fine try in the corner. 25-23.
Neither side could control the game in the latter stages and knock ons and penalties continued to impact the game. Lymm put together a period of pressure inside the Waterloo red zone which resulted in Emmitt ducking under a tackle to score the bonus point try and give Lymm some breathing space. The conversion took the score to 32-23.
But it was still white knuckle time for the home spectators. Instead of killing off the game, three errors in succession gifted Loo possession in the Lymm half. The visitors showed the clam Lymm had lacked to work another score on the right wing for Master. The missed conversion set the score at 32-28.
A saving tackle by Giles Dugdale and a Loo knock on prevented further scores and Lymm secured an important win. Tom Bray had a tidy outing at fly half, and Jack Harper, Aarron Rasheed and Luke Emmitt both showed they deserved the step up from the seconds.
Coach Adam Fletcher remarked “I think this was a triumph of our juxtaposition of rambunctiousness and élan. I am very pleased for the lads” Next week Lymm are away to Wirral.

Squad: 1) Mike Auden; 2) Dan Horton; 3) Alex Reay; 4) Aarron Rasheed; 5) Alex Kaihau; 6) Ollie Giles; 7) Ross White; 8; Adam Bray; 9) Tom Baker; 10) Tom Bray; 11) Mark Wells; 12) Luke Emmitt; 13; Giles Dugdale; 14) Cormac Nolan; 15) Dave Williamson; 16) Nick Ashton; 17) Jack Harper; 18) Andy Rowley