Doncaster Phoenix 10 Lymm 17

AFTER finishing 2016 with three defeats in a row, Lymm got the new year off to the best possible start with victory against their lowly hosts.

Despite trailing at half-time, Adam Fletcher’s side found a strong second-half response in what was a low-scoring affair, with James Kimber crossing for their only try in the second half.

Cormac Nolan also kicked four penalties for the visitors, who climb to eighth in the National League Three North table following their victory.

They can climb the table on Saturday when they welcome Kendal, the side directly above them, to Beechwood, kick off 2.15pm.

Phoenix share their facilities with Championship outfit Doncaster Knights, but with the main pitch in action the game was moved to a more basic side pitch.

After Chris Planchant picked up an early yellow card for the hosts, Lymm piled on the pressure and were eventually rewarded when Nolan slotted over a penalty.

However, Lymm couldn’t take advantage of their lead and surrendered it when Adam Kettle crossed to give the hosts the lead.

Zak Lythgoe was then yellow-carded for a high tackle and Doncaster pounded the Lymm line, but the visitors defended resolutely.

Injuries and another yellow card, this time for Tom Bagnall, stunted the hosts’ momentum and Nolan kicked another penalty to ensure Lymm’s half-time deficit was just one point.

They managed to turn that into a lead after the break as Nolan added another goal before the game turned scrappy with defences on top.

That was, however, until Lymm opened up their hosts when Andy Davies put Luke Titherington through a gap and he in turn threw a looping pass for Kimber to step inside and cross the whitewash, with Nolan off target with the conversion.

The full-back was on target with another penalty when Bagnall’s high tackle on Tom Bray earned him a second yellow card.

To their eternal credit, the hosts continued to fight and a penalty from Will Burden late on earned them a losing bonus point, but it was Lymm who won the day.

Lymm: Jordan Widdrington, Adam Bray, Dan Horton, Zak Lythgoe, Joe Watson, Alli Sutherland, Jake Ashall, Ollie Higginson; Andy Davies, Tom Bray; Lucas Titherington, James Kimber, Will Titherington, Richard McEvoy, Cormac Nolan. Subs: Mike Auden, Matty Connelly, Tom Shard.