Lymm's Lakeland bonus

FOUR tries and two conversions gave Lymm a bonus point victory on their first ever, competitive encounter with their Cumbrian hosts.
The Lymm supporters enjoyed a sunny, autumn day drive up the M6 to the Mint Bridge home of Kendal RUFC. Kendal Club President, Roger Wilson did the honours in hosting a fine lunch for the Lymm Allis as the teams went through their pre match drills. A £7.00 entrance charge for visitors, (£4.00 for OAP’s), was a shock to the travelling Lymm supporters. Former Lymm President Tony Wright complained and showed his bus pass, he was politely pointed in the direction of the nearest bus stop.
So, with Lymm electing to play into a strong wind, Midlands Group referee, Gareth Holsgrove, started the game. Lymm made a few team changes from the previous week’s win against Burnage. Colt, Nathan Fernyhough, a replacement last week, made his debut start at left wing. Matthew Barnes-Smith and Tom Smith started as centres; Joe Knowles moved to 10; Sion Williams started at lock; Jon Brotherton returned at prop and Tim Oakes started at hooker. Matt Delaney, Peter Allen and Oliver Giles were rolling replacements. The first 25 minutes it was all Lymm as their forwards took control of the game and put the hosts under tremendous pressure, this resulted in two unconverted tries. The first came after 8 minutes, with a set move from a 5m lineout. A catch and drive by the forwards was finished off by No 8 Adam Bray touching down, Joe Knowles narrowly missing the conversion (0-5). The next was a real team try and came after 25 minutes. Flanker Sam Mullarkey broke through from the halfway and took the ball up to the host’s 22; scrum half Tom Baker was in support to take the pass and feed Matthew Barnes-Smith who shook off two tacklers to score (0-10). Lymm could have easily been twenty points up by this time as two other touch downs were disallowed. After 5 minutes a Lymm forwards turnover gave their backs a chance to break down the left, Barnes-Smith making ground before passing to No 15 Dave Williamson who narrowly stood in touch before scoring. The same happened after 18 minutes with wing Joe Nattrass out on the right.
For the last 15 minutes of the half, Kendal started to get the better of the game territorially. This was a result of Lymm errors and indiscipline and Kendal full back Chris Park kicked three penalties after 29, 32 and 39 minutes. Kendal went close on a number of occasions with Voortman and Hutchins combining well out left.
Kendall had their tails up and piled on the attacks with Lowther and Davidson looking sharp and putting the visitors on the back foot. But Lymm defended well and with the hosts missing a further penalty attempt, Lymm retained their narrow 9-10 lead at half time.
The hosts continued were they had left off and took the lead with a Park penalty after 45 minutes of play (12-10). A good break down the right should have given Lymm their third try but a missed man pass allowed the cover to drift and Nattrass was held up over the line. Lymm were using their rolling replacement allocation well and whilst the scrums were evenly matched Lymm had the better of the line outs with 3/4 jumper options and variable calls. But Kendal continued to attack well, spreading the ball out wide and testing the Lymm defence. Then after 60 minutes and making ground in the Kendal half, Lymm were awarded a rare penalty in their favour. They opted to go for touch and a 5m line out, hoping to repeat the set move from their first try. Unfortunately the ball was adjudged to have been knocked forward in the line out. From the resulting Kendal scrum they cleared their line and took the game back into the Lymm half. Lymm defended desperately but following a surging run by Kendal No8 Holmes down the right, they increased their lead with another well struck Park penalty attempt (15-10).
The Lymm pack with its rolling replacement options must be one of the best in the league. Apart from the set pieces we have secure gain line drives and yards from Brotherton, Widdrington, Oakes and Allen; line breaking runs from Darbyshire, Giles and Williams; relentless break down harassment and support from Bray, Mullarkey and Higginson. So, with 10 minutes to go and defeat staring them in the face, Lymm re grouped and from a penalty and line out just inside the home 22, a well controlled rolling maul crabbed across to the home goal posts and Tim Oakes was rewarded with the touchdown, Knowles converting (15-17).
Kendal had come back well and kept in the game by Park’s kicking but Lymm were now, not going to let this game slip from their grasp. Attacking from their half, Barnes-Smith chased a long kick into the Kendal half. Collecting the ball he found Brotherton in support and the prop crashed through the home defenders into their 22. From the ruck, Captain Courageous, Ollie Higginson was there to take the ball and sprint through the remaining Kendal defence to score, Knowles converting (15-24).
Sadly, Glen Cheshire, the Kendal prop suffered a severe leg injury, dislocating his ankle and breaking his shin in three places. This is a serious injury and the Lymm club send our best wishes to Glen for a speedy recovery. The game was re started for the final minute of the game with no further score as Lymm forwards played keep ball, until Mr Holsgrove blew for time.
Lymm’s next game is this Saturday, October 27, when they are at home to league leaders Harrogate KO 3pm.

Team:- 15) David Williamson; 14) Joe Nattrass; 13) Matthew Barnes-Smith; 12) Tom Smith; 11) Nathan Fernyhough; 10) Joe Knowles; 9) Tom Baker; 8) Adam Bray; 7) Sam Mullarkey; 6) Ollie Higginson (Captain); 5) Sion Williams; 4) Tom Darbyshire; 3) Jordan Widdrington; 2)Tim Oakes; 1) Jon Brotherton.
Rolling Replacements: Matt Delaney; Peter Allen; Oliver Giles