LYMM Rugby Union notched a fourth consecutive win in their first ever league fixture against the once mighty Waterloo.
Consolidating third place the hosts were happy with the points but ultimately disappointed with their performance and a further bonus point was frittered away through poor execution and discipline. Indeed had the normally accurate Waterloo kicker been on target the final score would have somewhat difference.
Kinsey was able to bring back Harrison, shuffle Bray to 6 and Higginson to the second row. Veteran Sutton was rotated into 8 allowing Pickles some recuperation.
With Waterloo having won only one away game in 19 a good start was crucial. If Lymm scored first then perhaps they would undermine the confidence gained from Waterloo’s impressive recent improvement in performance and when Rowley expertly finished in the corner, collecting an audacious back handed pass from Adam Bray, it looked ominous for the visitors. 5-0 after 5 mins. It was all Lymm and Rowley had the chance to move the scoreboard again on 11 but missed a difficult penalty. A minute later though he slotted home to take it to 8-0 and on 20 the score was 11-0. Oakes was harshly adjudged to be not rolling away and the Waterloo kicker made it 11-3.
On 23 Knowles, getting better by the week after injury, put pressure on the opposition full back with an excellent, probing kick. The catch was dropped, Kinsey mopped up with Widdrington in support who assisted Adam Bray to go over. 18-3 with the conversion.
At this stage Lymm were already talking about the full 5 points and, oddly, it was 50 minutes before another point was scored. A combination of missed passes and dropped balls in midfield robbed Lymm of the chance to dominate. Injury to Tom Bray and Chris Kinsey left Lymm with Fletcher at 9 and Pickles, manfully, at 12 so the momentum shifted. Waterloo, also, were improving around the scrum but had little flair in the backs.
It was Harrison who went over on 76, at the back of a solid Lymm drive but Rowley, struggling with the breeze failed with the kick. It was Waterloo however who went after the bonus point and were rewarded with a try on 78 to finish at 23-10.
Kinsey, nursing a slight niggle to his shoulder was reflective: “We produced more errors than in any previous game this season but still came away with the points against an improving side. Surely that is the sign of a winning team.”
Andy Rowley, who notched his 4th try of the season to take his personal points tally to 89 at an average of 11 a game, acknowledged the lost point; “We really needed that bonus point, especially with our next game being against Stockport but a win is a win.”
Pickles, who warmed the bench wanted to praise the grounds team “the new dug out was a real treat.”
Lymm now travel to league leaders Stockport on Saturday to test themselves against the team that narrowly missed promotion in the play off last season.
15 Joe Knowles 14 Jack Johnstone 13 Dave Williamson 12 Tom Bray 11 Andy Rowley 10 Andy Roberts 9 Chris Kinsey 1 Scott Harrison 2 Tim Oakes C 3 Jordan Widdrington 4 Sion Williams 5 Ollie Higginson 6 Adam Bray 7 Jake Ashall 8 Mark Sutton 16 Tom Darbyshire 17 Adam Fletcher 18 Lee Pickles
