Lacklustre Lymm lucky to get two bonus points

LYMM have only won once at Rossendale and that was a level 6 North West One encounter 6/7 seasons ago and on Saturday they left Marl Pits feeling very lucky to have taken 2 bonus points from such a lacklustre performance.
Lymm’s difficulties started straight from the kick off. Within 2 minutes they found themselves a converted try down after a string of half hearted tackles combined with the strength of Rossendale’s running to create significant gaps, 7-0.
The next twenty plus minutes saw Rossendale dominate play and coming close to further scores. Lymm remained uncharacteristically out of sorts, and frequently not alert to what was in front of them. Rossendale added a penalty kick in front of the posts to take the score to 10-0.
Lymm were then gifted a try when following a Lymm knock-on from a high ball, Rossendale exploited the advantage only to spill the ball forward whilst on the attack. Cormac Nolan was on hand to scoop up the ball and race away for a welcome try. Nolan converted his own try, 10-7.
Buoyed by the try Lymm eventually found their feet and enjoyed 10 minutes of pressure in the home twenty two. This was rewarded with a penalty 30 metres out which was missed. Then a subsequent break down the left saw the Lymm back 3 combine to cross the line but the ball was held up by scrambling Rossendale defenders.
The home side absorbed Lymm’s pressure and capitalised on a Lymm error having stolen an opposition line out 15 yards out. Rossendale patiently moved the ball down field forcing Lymm penalties as they went. Joe Knowles took a tem yellow card for repeated infringements and Ross added 3 points to their tally, 13-7.
The Lancashire outfit then made the most of the extra man, and Lymm’s return to the sleepiness of the first quarter, to score again. Breaking tackles
through the middle with centres Albinson and Bedlow prominent in this as Lymm trailed 29 – 7 at the break.
The start of the second half saw both sides have opportunities to score. Rossendale failed to score from a line out on Lymm’s 5m line and Lymm had a maul held up and possession surrendered on their opponent’s line. However, it would be Rossendale who would score next as a knock-on at half way was seized on by winger Peel who dodged Lymm’s tackler to take the score to 7-25.
Back to 15 men Lymm responded with a good try. The ball was worked to the left and Cormac Nolan was able to kick through and collect the ball for his second try of the match. He converted a difficult kick to take the score to 14-25.
A Rossendale error after a powerful break by back rower Collins gifted the ball to Lymm centre Tom Bray. Bray’s intelligent kick forward was retrieved by Andy Rowley on the left wing and he finished well to add Lymm’s third try. Nolan converted another tough kick, 25-21.
To the surprise of many in the crowd Lymm were within 4 points and Rossendale had become more ragged in their play. Ollie Giles and Giles Dugdale were putting in the defensive hits that were needed to lift the defence and Lymm looked dangerous, briefly.
A break by Rossendale winger Bingham and the ever dangerous Albinson took advantage of poor tackling in Lymm’s midfield and the lead was extended to 21-32.
The final minutes were a frantic combination of Lymm attacks, Rossendale scrambling and knock-ons by both teams. With Lymm camped in their opponents 10 metres, following an excellent catch from the restart by Tom Baker, Ross were handed a yellow card for killing the ball. Lymm chose the line out, only to knock-on. Next, Lymm had a fine break collapse with the last pass going inside when there was a sizeable overlap outside. However the bonus point try finally came when Dugdale burst through a tiring defence to finish a fine effort. Nolan again converted. 32-28.
Rossendale were deserved winners against a visiting side who took far too long to summon up the energy and focus that have defined their season so far.
A less than happy Coach Fletcher remarked; “As a lifelong Stalinist, I have sought to imbue in my comrades the need for the surrender of the individual for the greater good of the collective. This was lacking at times today and there will be purges”.
On Saturday Lymm are at home to Cleckheaton KO 3pm
Team: 1) Jordan Widdrington; 2) Dan Horton; 3) Mike Auden; 4) Sion Williams (C); 5) Alex Kaihau; 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); Alex Reay; 17) Ross White; 18) Ollie Giles