Lymm 2nd 27 Wirral 2nd 23

LYMM eventually found a way to win with a far more controlled second-half performance.

James Lewis and Ben Rees led the charge in the forwards, with the front row getting on top in the scrums in the second half of Saturday's Championship League battle.

Lymm were creating little but then Rhys Jones made the first break of the game from 50 metres and chipped ahead.

Wirral did not control the ball near their line and the supporting Aaron Rasheed gratefully accepted the opportunity to score an unconverted try, 5-3.

Pressure from the visitors led to another penalty for Wirral to regain the lead and they moved 11-5 in front with a winger's try after a good passage of play.

A comedy of errors resulted in Lymm trying to move the ball wide under pressure and Wirral capitalised by intercepting and scoring under the posts for 18-5.

Lymm started to wake up.

The pack led by James Lewis started being more direct, putting Wirral on the back foot.

At half-time coach Peter Millachip emphasised the need to be more direct and play the game in the Wirral half.

Ben Rees and Oli Askew led the charge and after a good midfield break by James Lewis play ended up on the Wirral line.

After a number of close drives Lewis dived over for a try by the posts for Rhys Jones to convert.

There was a noticeable change in style and intensity about Lymm and almost immediately, after good driving play, the ball was moved wide for Rasheed to round the last man for a try in the corner which Jones converted with an excellent kick to go 19-18 in front.

Wirral entered the Lymm 22 to win a lineout 10 metres out and produced a controlled drive to score an unconverted try.

Lymm started to play tactically safe, by keeping the ball in the Wirral half and from a five-metre lineout won possession and moved the ball from one side of the pitch to the other creating an overlap for Jones to feed Rasheed for his hat-trick try.

From the restart, a good kick down field followed by a good chase ended with a penalty 35 metres out which Jones converted to complete the scoring.

Wirral would not lie down and had a lineout 10 metres from the Lymm line.

They went through 10 phases of pick and drive but the Lymm defence was up to the task.

Lymm travel to second-placed Vale of Lune, Lancaster, on Saturday and will have to perform from the first whistle if they are to come away with a victory.

Lymm: O Askew, A Stewart, J Widdrington, H Baldwin, B Rees, O Thornton, J Lewis, A Rasheed, T Baker, R Jones, W Titherington, J Davies, J Robinson, J Reynolds, R Halford.