Chester 30 Lymm 33

LYMM left it late to produce this upset at runaway leaders Chester.

Trailing 30-11 with 20 minutes left, the National League Three’s sixth-placed side produced a stunning comeback to hand Chester only their second league defeat of the season.

It was a victory that looked unlikely after three minutes, when the hosts looked every inch the league leaders as the fly half Hayes broke for Foden to score wide on the left.

Undeterred, Lymm looked to respond in kind until Cormac Nolan was given the chance to open his side’s account from in front of the posts, reducing the gap to 5-3.

That was when the hosts kicked into gear, opening an 18-3 lead thanks to two penalties and a converted try from Bown.

It took all of Churchill’s considerable skill in the rolling mauls to reduce Lymm’s deficit with a close-range try to add to a late Nolan penalty, making the score 18-11 at the break.

The comeback was made even more unlikely after Lymm’s poor start to the second half, allowing Chester to score two further tries to open a 30-11 lead with half the second period remaining.

It was at this point, with Lymm seemingly down and out, that the game turned in their favour.

Churchill’s rolling maul sent Tim Oakes over for an unconverted try, and as Lymm’s pack started to assert themselves, Chester uncharacteristically buckled under the pressure.

Richard McEvoy’s try out wide, converted by Nolan, hinted at an upset, but not until Tom Baker equalled the scores did Lymm believe victory could be theirs.

It almost was not, Nolan missing a late penalty attempt from the touchline, but with the last kick his boot steered the winning penalty between the sticks to complete a famous Lymm comeback.

Lymm 2nd 35 Altrincham Kersal 17

THE second string started the second half of the season with a win against a big Altrincham side.

Kersal’s intimidating pack controlled much of the first half, helping them push over for three tries, but Lymm’s backs were in form and countered with tries from Yates, Barnes-Smith and Young.

Chard converted two to give his side a 19-17 lead at the break.

The second half, with Lymm stepping up their intensity, was only going one way and tries from Quarmby, Young and two penalties from Chard completed the scoring.

Lymm u15 31 Liverpool Collegiate 5

TRIES came from Ciaran Finn, three, Matt Gill and Corey Whatmough, with conversions added by Matt Barker, two and Alistair Wealthall.

Lymm’s youngsters host Widnes at home on Sunday.