Report by Tony Halford
LYMM lost out 43-35 in a high scoring game of two halves following their third long visit to the North-East in six weeks, to a Blaydon side pushing for promotion even at this early stage of the season.
Weather conditions were cloudy with light rain for most of the match. There were a few changes to the Lymm team from the previous week: James Pitcher returning as hooker in place of the injured Dan Horton and Adam Bray to No8; Josh Hadland moved to blindside for the injured Jake Ashall; Scott Redfern retuned at No10 and George Norman started at centre for unavailable Steve Pilkington.
Events started badly for Lymm when a clash of heads in the second minute between Aaron Rasheed and Josh Hadland resulted in Josh retiring to the bench and Matty Hands replacing him.
Blaydon dominated territory in the first 20 minutes and scored an unconverted try following a scrum in the 8th minute by their flanker Davison. This was followed by a penalty try awarded to Blaydon in the 14th minute when James Pitcher was yellow carded for collapsing a rolling maul close to the Lymm try line, 12-0.
Lymm replied on 20 minutes following their first proper incursion into Blaydon territory after 2 successive penalties and line-outs won enabled Scott Redfern to side-step the defence and touch down close to the posts for Cormac Nolan to convert, 12-7.
Blaydon re-asserted their territorial possession combining with slick cross-field handling and scored 3 more tries before half-time. The first on 25 minutes when a cross-field kick found their No 8, Harry Borthwick, out on the right wing to score an unconverted try close to the corner flag, 17-7.
Further sustained pressure on 29 minutes enabled Blaydon prop, Fern, to place the ball at the base of a post-protector for a converted try, 24-7.
Lymm then “upped” their game and saw more possession and forages into opposition territory in the next 10 minutes, only for Blaydon to counter-attack on the stroke of half-time quickly move the ball across the line for their winger Wilson to score in the right-hand corner for another unconverted try, 29-7.
Half-time – Blaydon 29 – 7 Lymm
Supporters at half time were fearful that Lymm could be in for a difficult second-half. However that “proverbial game of two halves” kicked in which nearly resulted in more than the eventual “4-try” bonus point. Almost immediately after the start of the second-half, James Pitcher broke through the defensive line to score close to the posts for Nolan to convert, 29-14.
Lymm were now gaining more ball and territory which continued throughout the second half, however in the 51st minute the Blaydon fly-half, Carey, received the ball from a 22-metre line-out, dummy passed, and scored between the posts, 36-14.
Cash Chilvers, who was a handful to the opposition all game, responded for Lymm 5 minutes later, to crash over the try-line from a 5-metre lineout, converted by Nolan, 36-21.
On 60 minutes a fine Nathan Beesley break saw him dive over close to the corner flag, only for the home touch judge to rule he had placed a foot on the touchline in the run-in. The play was now predominantly with Lymm and in the opposition half and on 64 minutes following a scrum, the ball was moved out to Joe Senior to score close to the corner, ably converted by Nolan to gain Lymm a deserved 4 try bonus point, 36-28.
Lymm now needed one score for an additional “losing bonus point” and potentially two scores for a remarkable comeback win. Unfortunately the Blaydon No 8, Borthwick, broke from the base of a scrum to score close to the posts for a converted try, 43-28.
Lymm were not quite finished and with a few minutes remaining Aaron Rasheed crashed over from a 5-metre line-out for Nolan to convert yet again, 43-35
All now depended on perhaps a drop goal for Lymm to get the “losing bonus point” but it was not to be. In summary, following a disappointing first half, the turn round in the second half against one of the league’s leading contenders for promotion should inspire the team in future fixtures.
Director of Rugby Adam Fletcher commented. “A really disappointing first half. We quickly need to work out how to start games better, as we can’t keep playing catch up in this league. Defensively we were soft and conceded some pretty easy scores.
‘The second half was a different story. Our attitude and energy combined with better basics saw us score 4 converted tries. The character and skill the boys showed was really pleasing. I think we were slightly unlucky not to have gone away with 2 points.”
This Saturday Lymm are at home to Morpeth KO 3.30pm when the new AGP will be used for the first time. A large crowd is expected.
Full-time – Blaydon 43 – 35 Lymm
Referee: Nathan Howarth – RFU North Group
Team: 1) Gavin Woods, 2) James Pitcher, 3) Jordan Widdrington, 4) Aaron Rasheed, 5) James Yates , 6) Matt Connelly, 7) Josh Hadland, 8) Adam Bray (C), 9) Tom Shard, 10) Scott Redfern, 11) Joe Senior, 12) Ben Stansfield, 13) George Norman, 14) Nathan Beesley, 15) Cormac Nolan, 16) Matty Hand, 17) Cashel Chilvers, 18) Alfie Simpson.
