LYMM made the long journey to Middlesbrough, anticipating a hard match against a team still in need of points to secure its position in National League Three North and came away with a creditable 23-23 draw.
Regulars Jack Johnston and Andy Roberts could not make the trip, allowing Lymm to give promising youngster Chris Gee his first run out on the wing. Adam Bray made a welcome return at No. 8, after an ankle injury against Darlington. A good start was going to be important.
It was not a good start ! Failure to kick the ball 10 metres at the kick off, followed almost immediately by an eagerness to concede a penalty for off-side made the Lymm supporters wonder whether the players were more interested in the planned after match celebrations than winning the points to lift them up the table.
Two minutes gone and Simon Moore, Middlesbrough’s full-back, slotted the ball over from 35 metres to make it 3-0 to the home side.
Strong running from last week’s man-of-the-match Darbyshire lifted spirits and Lymm proceeded to dominate possession and territory for the next 20 minutes. Middlesbrough defended well, but persistent pressure from Lymm’s forwards, with Ashall and Bray leading the way, forced them to concede three penalties in quick succession. Each time Lymm kicked to the corner, rather than take the points and somehow managed not to score. Not for the first time this season Lymm seemed far too anxious to get across the white line.
A little more composure and patience in possession would surely have seen Lymm 20 points up by this time.
On 20 minutes prop forward Scott Harrison was replaced by namesake Ross Harrison, making his Lymm First XV debut, fresh from his man-of-the match performance for England U18s against Ireland the week before. Ross quickly settled into the match, showing the ability and mobility that will no doubt secure more representative honours in the future. On 24 minutes, however, Lymm’s ability to spill the ball allowed Middlesbrough flanker Wright to run 65 metres, inter-passing with winger Thornburn, to score against the run of play. Fortunately for Lymm the conversion was missed leaving the score at 8-0.
A knock-forward 5 metres from the line by Ashall, who deserved much better for his all-round commitment and drive, made one wonder whether Lymm were going to score.
On 28 minutes, a good drive forward by Ross Harrison and an excellent pass from Joe Knowles put Oli Higginson in for a try in the corner. Emmitt missed a difficult kick, but Lymm were back in the game.
A good run from deep and collection of his own grubber-kick forward by Dave Williamson set up what should have been the second try, but the try-line went begging again.
The best move of the match came on 38 minutes, when clean ball from the lineout gave Knowles the time to loop inside-centre Boaden before releasing full-back Williamson to score an excellently executed try. Emmitt converted to give Lymm a slender 8 – 10 lead at half-time.
Even the most ardent Middlesbrough supporter would have had to concede that Lymm should have been many more points ahead at this time. However, yet another fumble at the front of an attacking line-out gave Middlesbrough hope, as the careless tap-back set up a passage of play that saw winger Thornburn capitalising on Lymm’s half-hearted defence by scoring in the corner. Middlesbrough back in front 13 -10, conversion missed.
At last, some good passages of attacking play, with Ashall prominent again, saw Williams score a well-worked try, only for the referee to rule a forward pass. 
Lymm was forced to shuffle its pack when Bray (Millachip) and then Widdrington (Harrison) had to be replaced. Middlesbrough won a scrum against the head and put pressure on Lymm. The resultant penalty and kick to the corner was followed by a good driving maul that saw lock-forward Young score an unconverted try. Middlesbrough ahead 18 – 10.
The pending Lymm gloom, was lifted by an opportunistic break by sniper Kinsey, who off-loaded to Tom Bray to scamper under the posts from 30 metres.
Emmitt converted making it 18-17. Shortly afterwards, on 72 minutes, another good break, this time by the speedy Williamson, gave Lymm hope of a win, when the penalty it forced gave Emmitt the chance to put them ahead 18-20.
With more experience and less eagerness to press the self-destruct button, Lymm should have seen the game out. But no – unnecessary penalty conceded – Middlesbrough kick to the corner – push-over try. Middlesbrough ahead once more at 23-20. Thankfully, the conversion was missed again.
With time fast running out Lymm’s forwards and backs mustered up enough energy and enthusiasm to force Middlesbrough onto their own line. A try beckoned, but good defence held Lymm at bay. A well executed drop-goal by Emmitt, under intense pressure, brought the score to 23 – 23 with the last kick of the game – a much better kick than his first !
Lymm will have to lift their game for the final match of the season against a Billingham side who won at Stockport. A very commendable 6th or 7th in the league is within their grasp, whilst Middlesbrough fight on to retain their position in this league. Lymm’s supporters travelled home, very frustrated after the team’s performance, following good wins against Darlington and Penrith, but still very pleased that they will be watching National League Three North rugby next season.
Pictures show from the top, Ross Harrison who last week played for England U18 against Ireland and for Lymm the following Saturday, Skipper Tim Oakes and Tom Darbyshire being tackled with Chris Kinsey, Jordan Widdrington and Tim Oakes in the background.
Lymm team: 1 Harrison (S) 2 Oakes (capt.) 3 Widdrington 4 Darbyshire 5 Williams 6 Higginson 7 Ashall 8 Bray (A) 9 Kinsey 10 Knowles 11 Gee 12 Boaden 13 Bray (T) 14 Emmitt 15 Williamson
Subs: Harrison (R), Millachip, Fletcher.
