Season ends with try fest!

LYMM’S final league game of the season turned out to be a 15 try spectacular played between two teams committed to open attacking rugby played in a truly competitive spirit in front of a large travelling contingent.
The stage was set for an afternoon of end-to-end play in the 2nd minute by Bradford with their opening try followed by a Lymm reply from Barnes-Smith in the 5th who added the conversion. It was true post to post play with slick handling from both sides as Bradford added four more tries with replies of a Sutton try under the posts followed by a Barnes-Smith penalty and an Adam Bray try leaving Lymm 31 – 20 down as the half time whistle blew. 9 tries already, match over ? – not a bit of it.
Lymm came back strongly after the restart with their 4th, bonus point, try from the evergreen Kinsey followed almost immediately by yet another from Bradford, 36 – 25. Lymm found themselves under pressure from the heavier Bradford pack resulting in the home side adding another two tries before full back Knowles put down following a forceful jinking run, 43 – 32. Adam Bray at 8 played a major role in cleaning up untidy ball at the back of the pack as Lymm were reduced to 14 men following a yellow card offence. Forced into a period of dogged defensive play flankers Connolly and Ashall were outstanding with their tenacious tackling preventing Bradford gaining any advantage and enabling Lymm to come back in determined style with committed running and adroit handling resulting in tries from strong running centre Delaney and another from Knowles, converted by Barnes-Smith, Lymm ahead 43 – 44. A crucial crunching, oooh !, tackle from Lymm’s American connection Walcott prevented a certain Bradford score before
going into the final minute and Walcott rounding off a fine backs handling move by running in from 30 metres for the 8th Lymm try celebrated in delirious style by the Lymm players and supporters.
A true all-round team performance of committed play, skilful handling and few errors brought a memorable end to the season and cemented Lymm’s mid-table position in the strong National North 3 League.
Tries from; Adam Bray, Mark Sutton, redoubtable coach Chris Kinsey, Joe Knowles (2), Matt Delaney, Nick Walcott and Matthew Barnes-Smith who also added 3 conversions and a penalty.
Lymm: J Widdrington, P Allen, D Bates (N Ashton), O Higginson, M Sutton, J Ashall, M Connolly, A Bray, C Kinsey, T Bray, D Williamson, A Ferguson (N Walcott), M Delaney, M Barnes-Smith, J Knowles (Capt).