Sweet revenge for Lymm

LYMM turned on the style at Blackburn with a 10 try demolition of the basement team avenging the corresponding fixture last season when the Lancashire team took the points in a nasty encounter leaving three Lymm players in hospital.
The league leaders started with Dave Williamson at 13, replacing injured Hughes and Johnstone was back on the wing. Swetman replaced poorly captain Fletcher to give Lymm a different set of centres for the 5th match in succession.
A late cry off from Harrison enabled the versatile Brown to play two, Broadbent at tight head and Adam Cox returned at one after a season of injury.Pickles returned at five and Danny Bates was benched.
Concerns that Blackburn would aggressively spoil and crowd the contact area, forcing errors were allayed after captain Joe Knowles waltzed over on four minutes after a strong surge at a scrum. It seemed that each time Lymm had possession they could score.
Andy Roberts at 10 had a fine game providing structure and balance, allowing the bulldozing runs of Swetman to release the pace men.
On 12 mins Williamson glided through after excellent support from Higginson and Sutton. On 17 mins Williamson went over again after neat interplay with Joe Nattrass and on 27 Nattrass himself exploited a gap out wide after a great ball from Knowles.
The ability to create space was shown on the stroke of half time. Pickles took contact, scrum half Griffiths found Cox who went 20 metres before offloading to Higginson. His ball found Johnstone and the pacey winger flew in. Composed, patient play leading to a great score. Knowles managed 2 of the 5 conversion kicks making it 0-29 at the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Pace and flair combined with great forward support and build up. Knowles went over on 50 mins after a deft chip from Williamson and Nattrass secured his double with a 35 metre dash after being released by Knowles.
Blackburn were all but finished. Bickering amongst themselves, a shadow of the side that harried and bullied last season. Lacking concentration they permitted Griffiths to take a quick tap penalty and this enabled Roberts to cheekily score on 61. Higginson went over on 66 mins to cap yet another dominant display and then Griffiths notched yet another on 74. Knowles managed 3 out of 5 in the second half.
Kinsey was happy enough. “Our offensive patterns are becoming well established and unleashing our pace is the result of the well earned platform by the forwards.”
Spare a thought though for Tom Coon. Injured in the Blackburn game in Feb, with a career threatening broken back Tom was ecstatic. “The teams are performing fantastically this season and this is a testament to everyone’s hard work and commitment. It’s hard for me to watch each week without wanting to pull on the boots but I am looking forward to getting back with the squad. I am continuing the rehab and am improving from week to week. I consider myself lucky to be doing this well and I have set myself the goal of squad training some time after Xmas. It’s still a long road ahead though. I would like to thank everyone at the club, the lads, coaches, physios, management and supporters aswell as my family and friends for all their help and support.”
This Saturday Lymm entertain Broughton Park at home. 2.15 kick off.
Lymm. 15 Knowles C 14 Nattrass, 13 Williamson ,12 Swetman ,11 Johnstone ,10 Roberts ,9 Griffiths 1 ,Cox ,2 Brown ,3 Broadbent (Bates 65) ,4 Pickles ,5 Higginson ,6 Cullinane ,7 Ashall 8 Sutton (Millachip 65)Reps Kinsey