LYMM Rugby Union club's home match in Thwaites North Division Two against Vale of Lune had to be cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.

But the club are hoping the blank Saturday will not break their recent run of form which brought them victory over Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the NPI Cup.

They have been rewarded for the success with another home draw in the fifth round, scheduled for January 8.

Their opponents are Ilkeston, from Derbyshire, who play in East Midland Division One which is one level below Lymm.

But Lymm will not be underestimating their opponents after Ilkeston had a good NPI Cup run last year, defeating North Two promotion-winners Driffield on their way to the semi-finals.

The cup match will be played in place of the scheduled league game against West Park Bramhope and leaves Lymm with the problem of fitting the game and the postponed Vale fixture into an already crowded fixture list.

And the clash of Christmas and New Year celebrations with the next two weekends has left coach Steve Rule with the difficult task of keeping the team match fit and fully prepared for the NPI Cup.

Lymm's final game of the Millennium is their away league match against second placed Chester, who will be out for revenge after Lymm took the honours in last season's tussle.

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