Lymm make it five wins from six

LYMM Rugby Union made it five wins out of six games with a hard earned 6-3 victory over Percy Park.
The last time the two sides met, saw a game played in good spirit between two evenly matched teams, which was just edged by the home side. This game was no different.
The match kicked off with a distinct chill in the air. Any concerns about how the front row would stand up were immediately forgotten as Lymm took control of the scrums. The first fifteen minutes were fairly even with both sides sharing possession and both sides coughing up possession. Lymm grew into the game and started to get on top picking and driving well. Some great carries, with Sion Williams reveling in the number 8 role to the fore, were cut short through dropped passes and knock ‘ons, this stopped any real flow. To be charitable to both teams it was finger numbing cold!
Lymm however got the rewards their growing forward dominance deserved with a penalty slotted by Cormack Nolan. As the half progressed Percy Park turned to the backs and to the delight of their spectators started to play a more expansive game. Immediately they looked more dangerous and when the Lymm winger McEvoy was yellow carded on 32 minutes for cutting short a Percy Park attack with a deliberate knock on, it threatened to be an uncomfortable last ten minutes of the half. Lymm however held on comfortably to make the score 3-0 at half-time.
With Lymm having the forward dominance and the Percy Park back line looking increasingly dangerous anything could have happened in the second-half, in reality not a lot did.
Percy Park started the second half the stronger of the two teams, with the backs taking the ball deep into Lymm territory. Good defence by Lymm kept Percy Park out. The game then fell into the same pattern as the first half with neither side being able to get on top – dropped passes, poor decision making and increasingly strange refereeing decisions prevented any continuity. Percy Park where the team who suddenly got some momentum and started to take on the Lymm forwards, this was rewarded with a penalty to make the score 3-3.
The game was heading for a stalemate but both sides came to life in the last five minutes in an effort to win the game. First it was Lymm’s turn, from a line-out they set up a great driving maul. Heading to the Percy Park line at speed with Jordan Widdrington positioned at the back ready to score, what could possibly go wrong. Unfortunately the prop got ‘white line fever’ and broke too early and the chance was gone. This was a shame in more ways than one, as it would have been fitting for Jordan to cross the line to cap a great performance anchoring the scrum and putting in a great tackling stint. Lymm did however get a penalty for their efforts, which was converted to make it 6-3.
Percy Park sensing the game was nearly up attacked the Lymm line, phase after phase was defended magnificently by Lymm and eventually they forced a scrum. Five yards out a Percy Park put in, last play of the game…………. as the match had started so it ended with the Lymm pack shunting Percy Park backwards at a rate of knots, winning the scrum and with it the game.
There were too many errors from both teams for this to be a great spectacle but both sides should be congratulated for their full commitment, effort and great spirit. To used old fashioned parlance, Lymm showed great dog and deserved the win. This is now a team with real resolve and on its day and at full strength can now beat anybody in the league bar none. Harrogate beware!
Next week sees another game against top four opposition in Sandal.