Lymm lose out in close contest

HAVING won the home fixture, Lymm, visited their Merseyside rivals on a cold, blustery but bright day in what was expected to be a closely fought encounter.
For most of the match, a much-changed Lymm team gained the upper hand only to be thwarted by poor finishing and a little magic from the opposition towards the end of the game.
Fighting against a strong wind Lymm shoved the ball up their collective jumper and employed a highly effective driving maul for the first ten minutes. Against the run of play, following an uncharacteristic knock on from full back Andy Rowley in his own 22, Waterloo took full advantage from the subsequent attacking scrum. Masters, the full back, broke through poor tackling to score under the posts making it 7-0 after 11minutes.
Despite the wind at their backs Waterloo then tried running out of their own 22 but dropped a pass which Rowley kicked through for left wing Mark Wells, back after an impressive spell in the two’s, to out-sprint the cover and touchdown wide out. 7-5 after 17mins.
Despite gaining good yardage from the driving mauls, Lymm were penalised in possession just outside their 22 and the home side punished Lymm accordingly, 10-5 after 20mins.
Defence was the order of the day and while Lymm looked the most likely to score next, Waterloo held firm, even when tackled on their own line. Somehow they scrambled the ball away. Two attacking line outs followed and the visiting support anticipated a catch and drive each time.
Both times the defence held firm and then Adam Bray, following his hat trick last week, went from hero to zero tries, dropping the pass as he threatened the line. This was one of several, similar errors which became the theme of the game. In effect, it cost Lymm a match they could, and should, have won.
The scoreboard remained the same till half time but the visiting supporters all felt Lymm would convert their dominance into a win, with the wind at their backs. More technical improvement was bound to bring the scores required but Lymm’s approach was peppered with silly handling mistakes and infringements at key moments.
Waterloo meanwhile absorbed the best of Lymm’s attacks, particularly from James Boaden at centre who looked menacing each time he had the ball in his hands. His younger brother George, at scrum half, also had a fine game as he matures into the role.
Skipper Sion Williams suffered a head injury to be replaced in the second row by the multi talented Richard Halford. As Waterloo went for the jugular, Lymm held firm and there was a lot to admire but desperate defence from centre Luke Emmitt near his own line resulted in a yellow card and the home side converted the penalty to lead 13-5 with 15mins to go.
This appeared to galvanise the visitors who spent the next ten minutes hammering Waterloo’s line. From a promising attacking scrum, yet another dropped pass, with the line at his mercy, left Adam Bray looking haunted. Another yellow card, this time for winger Wells, infringing at the breakdown, with 5 mins to go, summed up a miserable day for the visitors.
Waterloo then produced the try of the match as they broke upfield with Reeve, the fly half, brilliantly passing out of the tackle for Waterloo to score near the posts, 20-5 as the conversion went over.
This final scoreline does not reflect how close this encounter was and coach Adam Fletcher was speechless in trying to sum up his feelings. This ongoing habit of missed chances, silly infringements and poor technical execution all conspired to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Basically Waterloo made fewer errors in an even game and Lymm must improve their strike rate if they are to reach a higher than lower middle position in this league.
Next Saturday Lymm are at home to Wirral KO 2.15pm.

Squad: 1) Nick Ashton; 2) Ross White; 3) Jordan Widdrington; 4) Alex Kaihau; 5) Sion Williams (C); 6) Sam Mullarkey; 7) Jack Harper; 8) Adam Bray; 9) George Boaden; 10) Tom Bray; 11) Jake Ecclestone; 12) James Boaden; 13) Luke Emmitt; 14) Mark Wells; 15) Andy Rowley; 16) Dan Horton; 17) Aaron Rashid; 18) Richard Halford;