Lymm 46 – 22 Billingham Report by Neil Allen
BEECHWOOD was in party mood with three teams at home, the barby fired up and everyone hoping for the bonus point victory in this the last game of the season, to secure the clubs highest ever league finish.
Billingham added to the party mood by bringing a great crowd and all at Beechwood were intent on having a good time regardless of the result.
Games between Billingham and Lymm are always marked by open running rugby and this was to be no exception. The game started with Lymm playing with the breeze. The intention of both teams to run the ball was clear from the off. The game was fast paced with Lymm drawing first blood when Oli Higginson burst through Billingham tackles played a one-two with Cormac Nolan and went over under the posts with Tom Shard adding the extras 7-0. Higginson was a handful all afternoon and has ended the season in the form of his life.
It was Billingham’s turn next and after wave upon wave of attacks, repelled by excellent Lymm defence, they finally went over for a well deserved try to level the score 7-7. It was ‘game on’ and clear that Billingham were here to try to spoil the party. Billingham were enjoying the lion’s share of possession and their handling was excellent but the Lymm defence was equal to the task and when they got their hands on the ball Lymm were ruthless.
On one such break out it was Higginson again that proved the difference, this time combining with Richard Halford and Tom Baker to go over for his second try, Shard again converting 14-7. Not far behind Higginson in the line breaking stakes was young Callum Harris who had a barnstorming game in the centre, making yards every time he got the ball. One such excursion saw Harris deliver a great inside pass for Aaron Rasheed to canter to the line to make the score 19-7. Billingham ended the half with a penalty and despite all their possession trailed 19-10 at the break. Lymm had been superb in defence and clinical with the ball.
The second half started in the same party mood as the first, with both teams full of running intent. Shard kicked a penalty for Lymm to take the score to 22-10. Upon the restart Higginson caught the ball and set off nearly making it the full length of the field, only to put the ball through various pairs of hands for Will Baldwin to finally crash over for the fourth try bonus point. Billingham came back again to score a converted try, 27-17. The game was now fast and loose and being thoroughly enjoyed by the large crowd.
Up stepped Higginson again, this time combining with hooker Ross White executing a cute one-two at the front of a 5m line-out for White to score 32-17. Lymm sensed it was the time to pull away as gaps were now opening up in the Billingham defence. Halford benefitted from one such lapse and managed to wriggle free from a number of tackles to gallop over with Shard converting, 39-17 and with less than 10-minutes to go the bonus point victory was secured.
Billingham did not however give up and went over in the corner to make it 39-22. But the last word went to Lymm and centre Harris, who bludgeoned his way over the line for the last try of the game, which Shard converted to make it 46-22. A fitting end to a great game and a wonderful season.
And so third place was secured which is a superb achievement by Coach Adam Fletcher and the team. All the lads should be immensely proud of some of the rugby they have played this season and the entertainment they have provided. A huge thanks for all their efforts. Hopefully the young squad will only get better, roll on next season…….in the meantime the atmosphere in the clubhouse afterwards was jubilant with the celebrations going on long, long into the into the night!
Team
1) Mike Auden, 2) Ross White, 3) Nick Ashton, 4) Will Baldwin, 5) Sion Williams, 6) Aaron Rasheed, 7) Adam Bray (C), 8) Oli Higginson, 9) Tom Shard, 10) Tom Bray, 11) Tom Baker, 12) Richard Halford, 13) Callum Harris, 14) Cormac Nolan, 15) Richard McEvoy, 16) Dan Horton, 17) Rob Makin, 18) Rhys Jones
The game concluded the season for the 1st XV but the 2nd XV are at home next Saturday 30th April against Sale FC 2nd XV in the final game of the Bateman BMW Conference A League.
On Sunday 1st May, Lymm host the Cheshire Senior & Junior Colts Cup and Plate Finals, with both Lymm Junior & Senior teams in the Cup Finals.
