WITH just three fixtures left and one more win away from avoiding relegation, brave but careless Lymm lost out 9-26 to fourth placed Harrogate.
Lymm, with a breeze at their backs, started briskly winning a penalty after 10 minutes, converted by full back Tom Shard – 3-0. Harrogate started to play with attacking verve but Lymm’s back row, and Joe Watson in particular, were putting in a strong tackling shift. But when in possession Lymm were not making the most of their attacking positions.
Harrogate clearly had another gear they could move up to and subsequently put the clutch down, scoring a well-structured try wide out for the left winger. The conversion was missed – 3 – 5 after 25 minutes. A further penalty by Shard put Lymm’s noses in front after 29 minutes – 6-5. An attacking line-out gave the visitors the perfect platform to trundle over for a well-worked try near the posts making it 6-12 after 32 minutes, with the added extras.
The referee then spotted a Lymm infringement by Aaron Rashid, the Lymm second row who was yellow carded. Harrogate then looked dangerous, seeking a score before half time, with Lymm a man down. The score subsequently came with another well worked try as they put the pressure on – 6 – 19 at half time.
Lymm could not break the defensive line and then scrum half Andy Davies, a classy and pivotal player for Lymm, had to leave the field of play after suffering a double injury involving both a cut head and shoulder injury. Shard moved to scrum half with Scott Redfern moving to full back.
A further penalty from Shard seemed like scant reward as the scoreboard read 9 – 19 with an hour gone. The momentum stayed with Lymm until two wayward kicks went out on the full, handing back the initiative to the visitors.
The game moved deep in to the Lymm 22 until the left winger went over in the corner for another well-worked score. 9 – 26 after a well taken conversion, on 75 minutes.
Execution at key moments was poor and Lymm were simply out-played.
Team: Gavin Woods, Adam Bray, Jordan Widdrington, Aaron Rashid, Matty Connelly, James Pitcher, Jake Ashall, Joe Watson, Andy Davies, Tom Bray, Joe Senior, Ben Stansfield, James Kimber, Luke Richards, Tom Shard. Reserves: Nick Ashton, Joe Jonson, Scott Redfern.
