Lymm undone by ten minutes of class from Sale

LYMM Rugby Union welcomed Sale to Beechwood for the first league game between the two local rivals.
The weather was fine and the crowd was swelled by a pre-dinner get together of past players from both clubs. Adam Fletcher the head coach at Lymm has developed a strong squad with real togetherness and playing with self-confidence. Sale have also brought together a very powerful squad primed for promotion and to reinforce this arrived for the game top of the league, having won all before them at the start of the season. Lymm were in no doubt they were in for a tough afternoon.
Tom Darbyshire returned to the Lymm team along with Joe Knowles but there was still no Jake Ashall or Ollie Higginson. Of the matchday 18 only two Lymm players were not home grown.
The match was preceded by a one minute silence for Frank Maycock, past player friend and benefactor of Lymm RFC.
This was a curious game that didn’t really get going and whilst on paper looked like a heavy defeat for Lymm, didn’t really feel like that…….Lymm competed well in the early exchanges but Sale opened the scoring with a penalty on 5 minutes. Undeterred Lymm continued confidently and on 7 minutes a kick chase from Dave Williamson, who is enjoying a new lease of life, ended in Dave touching down in the corner. Cormack Nolan superbly converted from the corner. Sale got another penalty on 15 minutes but Lymm came back with one of their own to take the score to 10-6. At this point Lymm were on-top, competing fiercely and winning all the exchanges.
All changed on 30 minutes when Sale began to ‘up’ the pressure, a close quarter try took it to 13-10 and within minutes Sale had scored again. An excellent try, with a number of forward phases followed by the backs being released and a text book touch-down for the winger in the corner. Lymm were now rocking and as if they sensed it Sale went for the killer blow. From the re-start they gathered and through some superb off-loading released the centre to touch down for a length of the field try. 21 Points scored in under 10 minutes. Lymm had done little wrong but found themselves 27-10 down at half-time and limped to the break slightly shell shocked.
Five minutes into the re-start saw Sale record their bonus point try assisted by the referee who bafflingly penalised Lymm for what looked like a great turnover, allowing Sale to kick to the corner and drive over the line for the try. 32-10 and the game was over.
For the next 35 minutes both teams had their moments with line breaks and close calls, all falling foul of last ditch tackles or knock-ons. Andy Rowley was particularly relishing playing against his old team and featured strongly at both ends of the field. Lymm kept up the intensity and didn’t give an inch with several big hits from Oli Giles who was relishing the physical confrontation. Lymm finished the second half on top but there was always the feeling that Sale could have stepped up a gear at any time if required.
Sale thoroughly deserved the win for the ten-minutes of ruthlessness and class and surely they will not fluff their promotion lines this season?
Lymm completed well and can be proud of their efforts. After the early part of the season things are looking good, all players are contributing and seem to be enjoying their rugby under the new regime. A special mention to the Bray brothers, who not only today but throughout the season so far, are showing their class at this level week in week out.
Well played Sale and back to normal business next week for Lymm away at Rossendale.
Team: 1) Nick Ashton; 2) Dan Horton; 3) Mike Auden; 4) Sion Williams (C); 5) Tom Darbyshire; 6) Jack Harper; 7) Sam Mullarkey; 8) Adam Bray; 9) Tom Baker; 10) Joe Knowles; 11) Cormac Nolan; 12) Giles Dugdale; 13) Tom Bray; 14) Andy Rowley; 15) Dave Williamson; 16) Jordan Widdrington; 17) Luke Emmitt; 18) Oli Giles