Lymm RU recorded their 7th successive home victory to give their slim play off hopes alive.
If they win their remaining three games and results go in their favour it could still be possible. In reality the aim is to finish 3rd, a quite remarkable result considering they were second to bottom at the end of November.
One of the reasons for this success is the performance of players drafted in to the team. The squad depth is becoming a real but positive challenge to the selectors as they attempt to bring the best out of players. This week Scott Harrison returned to 2 and Warren Ayres replaced the unavailable Dan Naylor. Nick Girdlestone, outstanding the week before, found himself on the bench.
The role of referee is always demanding. Rarely praised and often derided. Mr Daniels, however, had a shocker. Inconsistent and over technical. Lymm did well to control themselves and this shows the improving discipline within the team. Indeed the last time Mr Daniels refereed Lymm he sent Darius Miksys off for verbal abuse.
This time Darius was man of the match in a performance of quiet, controlled aggression. Mr Daniels most memorable moment was when he awarded the visitors a penalty for “backchat” from a home spectator!
The home side dominated the scrum. 100% on their own ball and 7 turnovers against the head enabled them to turn domination into points. On 12 mins warhorse Glenn George squeezed over after a 5 metre scrum to make it 5-0.
Northwich do possess potent backs and when they had the ball they had threat. On 24 mins fly half Bebbington scrambled over from a quick tap penalty and Dale slotted the conversion to give the visitors a half time lead of 5-7.
George had been sin binned on 36 mins. Mr Daniels would not allow him to return until 50, bizarrely. Lymm brought on fresh legs with Rob Calderbank and Nick Girdlestone brought off the bench on 50 mins. Immediately the impressive visiting 8, James, went over to make it 5-12.
Lymm used their forward domination again when on 56 the outstanding Sutton went over, again at the base of the advancing scrum to make it 10-12. “Tom” Swetman finally managed a successful kick to draw the scores level at 12-12. Mr Daniels awarded a kicked penalty to Northwich for a Broadbent offside to edge the visitors back infront at 12-15.
Neither Mr Daniels nor the Northwich defence could stop Jack Johnstone notch a classy try on 70. Sutton broke from the scrum, fed Kinsey, who advanced 15 metres and found Johnstone available. The flying winger does not miss these. 17-12. Swetman back in the groove. 19-15.
On 78 Mins Sutton went over again to make it 24-15 and on the stroke of full time Tom Hughes notched his 10th try in 6 games, sprinting 50 metres, to take the score to 31-15.
An easy win that ensures Lymm have not lost to the same team twice this year. A feat they will hope to copy in the remaining games.
Coach Kinsey stated: “It took us 60 mins to get going and forward power eventually gave us the platform for structure and we showed the difference in class.
“If the ref hadn’t continued to make bizarre decisions we would have scored more.”
On Saturday the first team are home to Anselmians in the semi final of the Cheshire Plate, kick off 3pm.
Team: 1.Ollie Brown 2 Scott Harrison (Nick Girdlestone 50) 3 Keith Broadbent 4. Darius Miksys, 5. Ollie Higginson 6 Glenn George (Rob Calderbank 50) 7Andy Williamson (Jake Ashall 73) 8. Mark Sutton 9 Chris Kinsey 10. Mike Swetman 11 Richard Butler 12.Tom Hughes (C) 13 Warren Ayres 14 Jack Johnstone 15. Dave Williamson
