Ilkley 6 Lymm 10 Report by Andy Leach
LYMM travelled to Yorkshire on Saturday determined to make amends for the loss they suffered at the hands of the Dalesmen at Lymm in September – a match in which Lymm managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
With the weather, on arrival at the picturesque Ilkley ground on the banks of the fast-flowing River Wharfe, a few notches better than had been forecast, Lymm once again fielded a much changed 15 from their last outing. Regulars returning were Knowles at full-back, White at hooker and Kahui in the second row, where he was partnered by Rasheed, promoted from last time’s bench.
Boaden was reunited with Tom Bray in the centres and a number of positional changes meant that Lymm was able to field its strongest back row combination of Higginson, Ashall and Adam Bray. The bench was an unusual combination of youth, in the form of returning student, McGrail, and experience, with veteran Williamson making a guest appearance.
Lymm kicked off with the wind on their backs and it was clear that with the heavy ground, leaden skies and periodic drizzle, points were likely to be at a premium. It was Ilkley who showed all the early enterprise retaining the ball well and creating space out wide with slick handling by their backs. Through this early pressure, Lymm’s defence looked solid and it was outstanding defence that ultimately secured the points.
Lymm were first on the scoreboard through a McEvoy penalty on 4 minutes (0-3) but this was levelled a couple of minutes later (3-3). For the second match running the penalty count against both teams was low resulting in an entertaining flowing match.
Midway through the first half, Kahui, who probably had his best match in a Lymm shirt this season, put in a monstrous hit on a rampaging Ilkley forward to win a turnover, which seemed to lift the Lymm defence to an even higher level of intensity and physicality. On 25 minutes, Lymm showed great tenacity to defend an Ilkley rolling-maul from a 5m line-out without infringing and ultimately, forcing the Ilkley right winger into touch as he stretched for the line.
On 28 minutes, McEvoy found himself taking a 10 minute breather as the referee ruled that his desperate defending had strayed the wrong side of legitimacy. It was most encouraging that during his absence the Lymm defence held firm rendering Ilkley unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage. On returning to the match, McEvoy almost scored in the corner but just failed to get to Baker’s clever cross-kick before it touched the in-goal line.
Although now playing against the elements, Lymm showed increasing confidence to move the ball wide and consequently, looked more dangerous in attack. On 50 minutes, winger Halford attacking down the left almost got in at the corner but was pushed into touch. With Auden coming into the front-row at half-time Lymm’s scrum now looked more solid, often disrupting the Ilkley ball and allowing Baker to increase the pressure on the Ilkley number 9.
On 65 minutes though, he was a little over-enthusiastic, and Ilkley, recognising that in the gathering gloom, the next score was likely to be significant, elected to go for the posts from almost 50m. Thankfully for Lymm, whilst distance was not an issue, the ball just drifted to the right of the posts.
Lymm then had their sustained period of pressure for which their try, when it came on 70 minutes, was just reward.
Strong direct running down the middle, with the outstanding Ashall at the fore, softened up the defence and then slick hands to the left put Halford into space. He made good yards and drew the Ilkley full-back with a well-timed inside pass to Higginson in support, who dotted down sufficiently close to the posts to make the conversion for McEvoy a formality. 3-10
With 10 minutes left and a 7 point cushion, Lymm surely couldn’t lose from here…could they? It was now that the panic set it. Perhaps it was the memory of that capitulation back in September, or the onset of darkness – whatever it was, it didn’t make for relaxed spectating! Sliced kicks; loose passes; fumbled balls; knock ons – they each came thick and fast.
Then, on 72 minutes, Ilkley were awarded a penalty on the Lymm 22 – it had to be a kick to the corner and a driving maul didn’t it… Then in what can only be viewed as a Robshawesque captaincy moment, Ilkley elected to kick for goal. They secured the three points but almost certainly gave up the chance to level the scores. 6-10
Lymm did hold out, just, for the win – as the referee’s final whistle was greeted by relief both from the players and spectators, who were finding it increasingly difficult to see what was going on.
So, Lymm reach Christmas and a three week rest, in good spirits, sitting in 8th place in the highly congested middle-ranks of a very competitive league. With most of their long away matches behind them and 8 home matches amongst the 13 remaining, there is much to be pleased about as we look towards 2016.
