By Dave Fernyhough
LYMM kicked off the new season at Crouchley Lane in National 3 West with a 50 – 27 victory over Loughborough University.
The time since the end of the last season had not been without drama, with relegated Loughborough (from the East Midlands) being reinstated after Macclesfield, in the North West, refused to play in the West Division.
Lymm had a new look with retirement, moves and injuries, meaning the names of veterans Beesley, Jennings, Yates, Higginson, Morris, Pilkington and Nolan were missing and 3 new signings and a handful of academy graduates were taking their places.
This Students team looked far stronger than the one Lymm faced last year, and indeed the contest was far fiercer than the final score would suggest.
Lymm would open the scoring early on, indeed before your reporter arrived at the match! I am reliably informed Loughborough fumbled the Lymm kick off and Lymm capitalised with a spell of pressure that saw debutant centre James Hampson score and Tom Shard converted, 7 v 0 after 5 minutes.
Your reporter was on hand though to see Loughborough’s reply. Following a very strong Lymm scrum midway in their own half the ball was turned over at the ruck, and Lymm were penalised. The ensuing lineout and maul were excellently executed and the students drove over from short range to take the score to 7 v 5. Conversion missed.
Back row tyro Josh Hadland sustained a head injury early in the game and made way for Fin Williams, returning to the club after a spell away.
Benefitting from the good ball Lymm’s scrum was creating, a Tom Shard kick-through was nearly turned into points by Joe Heaton on the left wing, but he was bundled into touch just shy of the line.
The next score was to be by the visitors, with a penalty following a strong midfield hit by Finn Williams. Again this led to a lineout maul, and again the crispness of the Loughborough execution allowed them to add another try from feet away – 7 v 10. Converted, 7 v 12.
Lymm were struggling at the ruck, accruing a number of penalties, and the visitors were looking threatening with most of their attacks, and again very disciplined and structured. However, Lymm’s aggressive defence, including an impressive scramble when the Midlanders looked set to score, and strong scrummaging were keeping them at bay.
A Lymm penalty allowed them some relief and field position deep in the visitors’ territory. From the lineout No 8 Rhys Lilley, who was outstanding all afternoon, hit a fine line and got to within feet of the whitewash, the ball was recycled and sent wide but centre Jack Reynolds, who again looked threatening all match, was not able to hold on.
The attack was not over though as the home side defence kept Loughborough trapped on their own try line. A penalty ensued and again the scrummaging was dominant and the referee awarded a penalty try, which Shard converted. 14 v 12.
A Students’ kick to goal would end the first half, 14 v 15.
HALF TIME: Lymm 14 – 15 Loughborough Uni
The kick-off saw Lymm pressured in their own 22, and the Loughborough discipline and organisation paid dividends, patiently working away to create a gap in Lymm’s energetic defence and capitalising when they did, with a comfortable trot through that space. 14 v 22 after the conversion.
A period of exciting, but at times wild, rugby by both sides came next, with attacks undone by knock-ons and optimistic passes.
There were many penalties too, and the next score came off one of these. Scrumhalf Tom Manaton, who had impressed all game, quickly tapped and went when awarded a penalty 35 metres out. Lymm were then given another penalty at the end of the run, 5metres from the line.
A forceful scrum drove the ball over the line but despite Lymm pleas the referee was unsighted and did not award the try. This was of little concern as Rhys Lilley was given the chance to add to Lymm’s total at the back of the next scrum. Again Shard converted, 26 v 22.
Loughborough were uncharacteristically disjointed at the restart and knocked on giving Lymm good field position, and then yet another penalty followed which Shard kicked from in front of the posts. 29 v 22.
Despite Lymm looking less precise in their play now, Loughborough would respond immediately, charging down a box kick and then getting the loose ball to their wing and taking the score to a gripping 29 v 27.
With a quarter of the game left to play things began to change dramatically.
Lymm’s defence continued to pose a disruptive challenge to the visitors attack and, as they tired, three Lymm tries followed in quick succession and the Students’ resolve dissipated.
Firstly centre Reynolds, hooker James Pitcher, Lilly and Manaton attacked the right hand side of their opponents’ defence, with the latter two players juggling the ball between them as Manaton scored, Shard converted again – 36 v 27. Two scores ahead and the clock was ticking down.
Loughborough’s right hand side was again targeted as replacement flanker, young Jamie Cope found space to attack and his efforts were rewarded with winger Heaton scoring. Of course, Shard converted 43 v 27.
With full time beckoning, and Lymm very much in the ascendency Hampson in the centres took advantage of tired Students passing to intercept the ball just over half way and gallop through to end the game with another try, this time under the posts, and another Shard conversion, 50 v 27.
A bracing contest to start the new season, with Lymm showing more fluidity in attack and unity, and grit in defence that was absent for much of last season.
The new faces gave very positive debut performances, and the young academy graduates gave much hope for the future.
Andy Davies, Lymm’s Head Coach was delighted with his team: ‘A great performance and result to start off the season.
‘The lads had taken on board what we had talked about in pre-season and throughout the week and executed the game plan out on the pitch, especially in the last 20 mins.
‘Really proud of every single one of them out there today, but we know there’s still a lot more to come from this squad,’ he concluded.
Team
1. Ben Lilley (25), 2. James Pitcher* (115), 3. Matthew Hand * (138), 4. Josh Maskery (12), 5. Olly McCarthy (1), 6. Jack Stride* (41), 7 Josh Hadland* (79), 8. Rhys Lilley* (96), 9. Tom Manaton (50), 10. Tom Shard (C)* (167), 11. Joe Heaton * (21), 12. Jack Reynolds (53), 13. James Hampson (1), 14. Andy Williams* (31), 15. Alfie Simpson* (56).
Finishers: 16. Jamie Cope, 17. Joe Higgins, 18. Nathan Ovien, 19. Fin Williams, 20. Alex Muckherjee.
( ) No. of Lymm First XV League appearances
*Product of Lymm M&J’s/Colts Academy
Referee: Tom Hurley
Assistant Referees: Liam Reilly and Joachim Abimelech
Pictures Dan Jones.
