LYMM welcomed Sandal to a wet and murky Crouchley Lane, but with the panto season in full swing spirits were high and hope eternal that the recent improved performances might finally turn into a win and much needed points.
The team sheet saw the welcome return of Tom Bray to the match day squad, along with Joe Watson.
The kick-off was greeted by the heavens opening and the prospect of a free-flowing spectacular looked highly unlikely. Despite this Lymm, with the advantage of the strong wind in their favour started with good intent and intensity. The scrum was solid and the recent slow starts to games seemed forgotten. On 20 minutes the home team’s endeavours were rewarded with the first try of the game. First phase ball from a scrum saw a well-executed move, which left Richard Halford free to gallop over untouched from the half-way line. Cormac Nolan added the extras, 7-0 to Lymm and all seemed well.
That however was as good as it was going to get for Lymm from an offensive point of view. The score spurred Sandal into action and they began to grow into the game. With the penalty count mounting up against Lymm and the error count increasing Sandal started to dominate. Lymm’s defence was performing well and good defensive kicking with the wind kept Sandal at bay. On 35 minutes Sandal finally got points on the board, Lymm again falling foul of the referee’s whistle offered Sandal a penalty opportunity under the posts, 7-3 and game on.
Lymm finished the half on the attack but could not add to the score. Would the narrow lead be enough playing against the elements?
HT Lymm 7 – 3 Sandal
Luckily for the home team the wind dropped at the beginning of the second half but Lymm struggled to get any momentum into their game. Conditions worsened, and both teams were finding it increasingly difficult to hold onto the ball. In an attempt to gain some control Lymm shuffled the back-line, brining Tom Bray on at 10 in an effort to control possession. Sandal continued to chip away, and a further penalty took the score to 7-6.
Sandal were now sniffing victory and camped on the Lymm line. Ten minutes of scrummaging and close quarter drives were repelled magnificently by Lymm. However wrong options, poor kicking and the constant blast of the referee’s whistle meant Lymm could not get out of their half for any length of time and it was now all about holding on.
With a few minutes to go Lymm managed to get hold of the ball and played out the game to grind out a crucial victory. The sense of relief was palpable all around Crouchley Lane, free flowing spectacular it had not been, but the sprit shown by the lads had everyone feeling that a corner had been turned. Matt Connelly was awarded man of the match for a performance which typified the whole teams dogged resistance.
Commenting afterwards Coach – Adam Fletcher reflected the mood of the clubhouse, ‘the game wasn’t the greatest spectacle but the win and points was everything.’
Lymm 2nd team lost 9 – 20 at home to Vale of Lune and Lymm Eagles lost 46 – 14 away to Anselmians 2nd team.
Next Saturday 15th December, Lymm 1st team travel to Rossendale for the start of the second half of the season. Then the next game will be Saturday 5th January when they are at home to Wirral.
Team
Gavin Woods, Adam Bray, Matty Hand, Matty Connelly, Aaron Rasheed, Joe Watson, James Pitcher, Ali Sutherland, Tom Shard, Scott Redfern, Richard McEvoy, James Kimber, Richard Halford, Joe Senior, Cormac Nolan, Jordan Widdrington, Cashel Chilvers, Tom Bray
