Lymm pay the penalty

A last gap penalty miss cost Lymm a deserved victory as they were edged out 13-11 at Waterloo.
The hosts can count themselves very lucky to win a match, which was largely dominated by Lymm, especially in the second half. However, Waterloo defended very well and hung on to take the winning four league points leaving Lymm with what could be a valuable losing bonus point.
With six experimental law changes to bear in mind and a revised rule on the use of substitutions, Lymm travelled to Blundellsands for the opening game of the National League 3 North season against Waterloo. Formed in 1882, 78 years before Lymm, the hosts have a fine history, producing many county and international players over the years. Over the past two seasons the home side has always taken the honours but Lymm had high hopes of changing this pattern, with 12 new player registrations and encouraging displays in pre season warm up games.
With some players unavailable due to holidays and injuries, it was a new look Lymm team that took an early 0 – 6 lead from two Luke Emmitt penalty goals after 3 and 9 minutes of play. Liam Reeve, the Waterloo No 10, had missed a kickable penalty after 5 minutes. Debuts were made by Alex Isherwood at flanker, Oliver Giles at lock, Jon Brotherton at prop and Gaz Davies a rolling replacement scrum half. Lymm also welcomed back Tom Darbyshire after a year out in Australia.
Whilst the crowd enjoyed the warm sunny conditions, both sets of forwards locked horns to gain territorial dominance. Lymm were looking good in the set pieces and in the loose the forwards made good ground with Oli Giles and Tom Darbyshire proving to be a handful. After 22minutes, a Waterloo penalty kick took them into the Lymm half and from a set scrum they moved the ball quickly right, their winger James O’Brien shook of a couple of tackles before passing inside for scrum half Tom Holloway to cross the line, Liam Reeve converting. (7-6)
At this stage Lymm lost the services of Sam Mullarkey with a shoulder injury. Sam, who had come through the M&J’s and the Lymm Colts, has just returned to Lymm following a two year break playing for Morley and then Sale FC. He was replaced by Piers Crozier. With the new regulations regarding ‘Rolling Substitutions’, both sides were making changes as it suited them.
The rest of the half was dominated by Lymm. Two try scoring breaks from Michael Floyd and Peter Allen came to nothing as the ref ruled an infringement. Dave Williamson and Tom Baker went close down the left but the Waterloo defence held out. The Lymm pressure was rewarded by a penalty attempt from Luke Emmitt which went just wide
and he also struck an enormous drop goal attempt from the halfway, which just failed,with the game finally balanced 6-7 at the break.
From the restart, Tom Darbyshire collected the ball on a storming run down the left but eventually Waterloo regained possession and took the game back into the Lymm half and converted a penalty from the Lymm 22. (10 – 6) This was against the run of play and after 15 minutes of the half, Lymm had a series of 5 metre scrums on the host’s line and five times they were adjudged to have been held up over the try line. The home team eventually relieved the pressure and cleared their line.
Lymm couldn’t believe that they came away with nothing and were soon back on the home 5m line and awarded a penalty, when a Waterloo flanker was yellow carded. Opting to take the scrum, Lymm moved the ball quickly left for wing Richard McEvoy to score out wide but the conversion was missed. (10 – 11) The lead was short lived and with 10 minutes remaining, Waterloo made a rare visit into the Lymm half and awarded a penalty on the 22, which Liam Reeve converted. (13 – 11)Then, with Lymm missing their late penalty chance, the hosts hung on and were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Lymm’s next game is on Saturday, September 8 when they are away to Birkenhead Park.
Team:- 15) David Williamson; 14) Michael Floyd; 13) Matt Delaney; 12) Luke Emmitt; 11) Richard McEvoy; 10) Tom Bray; 9) Tom Baker; 8) Oli Higginson (Captain); 7) Sam Mullarkey; 6) Alex Isherwood; 5) Oliver Giles; 4) Tom Darbyshire; 3) Jordan Widdrington; 2) Peter Allen; 1) Jon Brotherton.
Rolling Replacements: Gaz Davies; Nick Ashton; Piers Crozier