Lymm go eight points clear

WITH this the only game to survive the weather in North 1 West Lymm went eight points clear, albeit with second place Northwich now having two games in hand.
New Brighton seemed keen to play in the borderline conditions. Perhaps thinking a wet pitch may nullify Lymm’s backs and even the contest. In fact both sides struggled with the conditions with endless handling errors creating a bitty contest without much to warm the brave fans.
Both sides struggled with unavailability’s. Lymm were forced to make five changes with Butler, Miksys, Broadbent and the seasoned Kinsey all starting.
Pickles returned from absence and there were positional changes for Williamson, Higginson and Griffiths.
Lymm started brightly, bossing most areas of the set piece and the visitors were first on the score board. Joe Knowles scything through the defence after great work from Dave Williamson at 13. A missed conversion and missed penalty on 38 mins, from great distance, seemed to suggest the enigmatic 15 was struggling to kick in the conditions but he had no problem, in front of the posts, on 39 mins converting his own sensational try, scampering 50 metres to make the score 12 -0 to Lymm at half time.
New Brighton needed to start the second half well and a perfect cross kick from their fly half, Birley, allowed winger Simpson to score on 47 mins. Birley notched the conversion to make it 7-12. However that was their only real chance of scoring as the Lymm defence held firm, especially in the back row.
Knowles was successful with a penalty on 71 mins to make it 15-7 and an excellent try from man of the match Higginson on 78 mins gave the score some respectability at 20-7.
Lymm may thank the referee for allowing the game to be played. At this time of the season points on the “board” are always better than games in hand and an eight point advantage is significant with 11 games remaining. Lymm will look at their remaining fixtures, with seven at home, and feel the decision to play was correct.
The next game at home to 2nd place Northwich now looks immense for both teams.
Battle scarred coach Kinsey was mindful of the coming game saying: “A 2 point away win against tough opposition was invaluable particularly with no one else playing.
“The victory is a great warm up for next weeks biggest game of the season at home to Northwich.”
Lymm will now look to replace scrum half Chris Griffiths who is now off on his travels until the summer. Griffiths has been in outstanding form and will be missed.
Lymm face second place Northwich at home this Saturday kick off 2.15pm – weather permitting. Lymm expect to be at full strength for this important encounter.
Team: 1.Adam Cox 2 Scott Harrison 3 Keith Broadbent 4. Darius Miksys, 5. Lee Pickles 6 Jake Ashall 7 Ollie Higginson 8. Mark Sutton 9 Chris Kinsey 10. Tom Hughes 11 Richard Butler 12 Mike Swetman 13 Dave Williamson 14 Chris Griffiths 15. Joe Knowles (C)