Lymm 27 Huddersfield YMCA 31

LYMM suffered a narrow defeat to visiting Huddersfield in National League Three North on Saturday.

This was a contest that exemplified what is good in level five rugby; two evenly-matched teams with very different styles of play, each fielding starters (Lymm 14, YMCA 12), who have come through the clubs' youth sides.

Nineteen-year-old Rhys Jones in his second start looked assured at stand-off and the similarly-aged Jake Ecclestone was very lively in the centre.

A line out for the home side near the half way line was the catalyst for the opening score.

Tom Bray cut an excellent line before slipping in Jake Ecclestone. Cormac Nolan converted.

Lymm were soon over again. Bray intercepted a pass on his own 22-metre line, with the ball moved to Nolan who kicked through for Joe Knowles to add a converted try.

Having conceded, Lymm saw hooker Adam Bray and then Sam Mullarkey and Huddersfield led 17-24 by the break.

Ecclestone went over after the interval following good work from Tom Bray and Nolan converted to level before slotting a penalty from 40 yards to edge them in front.

But when a knock on gave the visitors possession they were able to capitalise and go between the posts from  a lineout for the winning points.

Lymm's youngsters impressed, while Mark Dixon and Alex Mitchell are in the England under 18s squad to face France next weekend and James Mitchell was man of the match in the under 20s win over Ireland on Friday.

On Saturday Lymm visit Morley, kick off 3pm.

Lymm: Mike Auden, Adam Bray, Jordan Widdrington, Alex Kahui, Sion Williams (c), Sam Mullarkey, Jack Harper, Andy Kerr, George Boaden, Rhys Jones, Andy Rowley, Tom Bray, Jake Ecclestone, Cormac Nolan, Joe Knowles, Richard Halford, Mark Dixon, Nick Ashton.

Lymm 2nd 99 Whitchurch 2nd 0

WITH five league matches left, Lymm maintained their nine-point lead over second-placed Wirral, with this comprehensive win at bottom placed Whitchurch.

During the opening 10 minutes, play was evenly matched, and did not reflect the difference in league positions.
The deadlock was broken by Richard McEvoy with a 60-metre break, slicing through the Whitchurch lines of defence to score close to the posts, converted by Tom Baker.

Thereafter Lymm ran riot scoring 6 more first-half tries, four being converted by Richard McEvoy.

The one-way traffic continued in the second half with Lymm scoring seven more tries plus a penalty try, with McEvoy converting seven, some from close to the touchline.

Try scorers: McEvoy, Malik, two, Robertson, Worton, three, Gough, two, Williamson, two, Kim, Wells, two, penalty try.

Next week Lymm travel to sixth-placed Wilmslow, a local derby, which should prove much more challenging.

Squad: O Askew, F Malik,  K Broadbent, A Halford (c), J Cartwright, J Long, G Robertson, O McCormack, T Baker, D Williamson, S Gough, M Wells, M Lott, J Worton, R McEvoy, Kim, R Ridley-Thomas.