LYMM moved up to third place in national league three after a hard fought 0-5 victory at West Hartlepool.
Four years ago Lymm returned from Hartlepool following an unexpected 36 – 14 win in the Intermediate Cup against a West Hartlepool side that was playing in a higher league at the time.
This time, playing in the same league, they returned with the spoils and four very valuable points to move up to joint third place in National League 3 North after scoring the only try and points in this hard fought match. 
The win was not unexpected, as Lymm have been playing well in the last month. What was unexpected was the weather; the constant drizzle spoiled the game as both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball. What was also unexpected was that it took veteran prop Tucker 75 minutes before he was yellow-carded. All of Lymm’s supporters would have bet on an earlier bath, but by keeping it until the last 5 minutes it added drama to the last few minutes of the game. Magnificent defence by his team-mates secured the victory, a just reward for their collective spirit and determination to keep West Hartlepool out.
Like England, Lymm started brightly, and like England they failed to secure their own ball at a line-out 5 metres from the WH line to turn pressure into points. Ironically, they went ahead with the most incisive attacking move of the match when they had been reduced to 14 men; winger Barnes-Smith being less predictably yellow-carded for a high tackle on 17 minutes. Lymm’s try came on 22 minutes when forward drives by No. 8 Adam Bray and prop Jordan Widdrington set up a platform for the backs to exploit. Skipper Joe Knowles duly obliged by sending out a long pass to David Williamson, who hit the line from full-back at pace, opening up the WH defence before putting winger Jack Johnstone in at the corner; to make it 0-5.
Lymm presented WH the opportunity to level the score just before half-time by needlessly giving away another penalty that allowed the home team to kick to the corner for an attacking line-out. Lymm’s defence just managed to keep WH out, when a try on the stroke of half-time looked on.
Throughout the game both sides tried to play open, attacking rugby, but were thwarted by the difficulty of keeping hold of an incredibly slippy ball. West Hartlepool dominated territory and possession in the second half, but Lymm’s defence kept them in and ultimately won them the game. This will please Head Coach Kinsey, who was pressed into action this week, because lapses in defence have been commonplace in recent matches.
Kinsey will have been very pleased with ex-colt debutant Connelly at wing forward, who worked tirelessly throughout the match and tackled himself to a standstill. He will also be pleased that the team was able to come out on top despite seven changes from the week before. Peter Millachip, John Millington and Alex Bennett showed their experience, leading by example around the pitch, but especially in the tacking department.
Kinsey will have been less pleased with the timing of Tucker’s yellow-card, which came just after Lymm had won a penalty to halt a series of attacks from WH. It was incredible how the remaining 14 were able to hold out against the inevitable onslaught in the last few minutes. The last minute was surrounded with controversy, when Tucker was called back from the sin-bin to replace injured Alex Bennett to avoid uncontested scrums, as invited to do so by the referee. The perpetual sinner turned saint, when his scrummaging ability and physical presence helped Lymm to keep their very slender lead. What a relief when the referee blew his whistle. Everyone on the touchline would have bet on a 7 – 5 win to WH. The debate about the recall of Tucker continued in the clubhouse, but thankfully the WH 0: L 5 score remained.
Next up – Sandal at home – a mouth-watering prospect, against a team in joint third, like Lymm. Let us hope for less watery weather. It should be a really good match.
Team: 15 Williamson; 14 Barnes-Smith; 13 Bray (T); 12 Emmitt; 11 Johnstone; 10 Knowles; 9 Kinsey; 8 Bray; 7 Connelly; 6 Millachip; 5 Higginson; 4 Bennett; 3 Broadbent; 2 Millington; 1 Widdrington. Replacements: Crozier; McNicholl; Roberts.
