Lymm 17 Rossendale 15

ADAM Fletcher hailed the character of his Lymm side as they marked their first home game of the new season with a victory.

They had to come from behind against Rossendale at Crouchley Lane but eventually secured the points thanks to tries from Jake Maher and Giles Dugdale.

Cormac Nolan also kicked two conversions and a penalty, with Fletcher picking him out as one of the team’s star performers.

“We showed a lot of character to come back from 15-7 down at half-time following an error-strewn first half,” he said.

“We knew if we could keep possession for multiple phases, we could cause Rossendale problems.

“We started to believe and put increasing pressure on their line.

“The back row were fantastic throughout, Tom Shard had a great game at scrum-half and Cormac Nolan’s kicking was outstanding.

“We still have a lot to work on, but the feeling is good going into next week’s game at Wirral.”

Rossendale asserted their authority up front early on and from a penalty earned by their rolling maul, they took the lead through winger Aaron Perry with Lewis Allen adding the extras.

Another well-controlled maul earned another penalty which Allen converted as the visitors made the most of their dominance.

However, the home side eventually found their rhythm and were able to put some phases of possession together.

Tom Bray, Gav Woods, Scott Redfern and Ali Sutherland were all instrumental in getting the ball to home debutant Maher on the wing and he dived over in the corner to score a well worked try which Nolan converted.

The resurgence was short-lived, though, as a loose lineout from Lymm on their own five-metre line was gratefully picked up by visiting number eight Dominic Moon, who crossed unopposed.

That gave Rossendale a comfortable lead at the break, but it was as good as it got for them.

The hosts’ agile pack started to steal possession after the interval and laid a platform for the outside backs to attack.

Their relentless attack finally brought points when Nolan booted over a long-range penalty before the game-breaking moment came.

Tom Shard’s clearance kick was won back by the forwards and after Redfern had cleared the ruck, the ball was spun left for Dugdale to race away and score, with Nolan’s conversion taking Lymm ahead for the first time.

Lymm then came under immense pressure as Rossendale regained the command they had in the first half.

Penalties started to rack up against them, but they held on as Shard marshalled them expertly in the closing stages.

They travel to Wirral on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Lymm: Gav Woods, Rob Makin, Matty Hand, Joe Murphy, Zak Lythgoe, Sam Mullarkey, Adam Bray, Ali Sutherland; Tom Shard, Scott Redfern; Jake Maher, Tom Bray, James Kimber, Richard McEvoy, Cormac Nolan. Subs: Cashel Chilvers, Giles Dugdale, Matty Connolly