Lymm 33 Wirral 13

SKIPPER Adam Bray says Lymm can still “step up a gear” despite maintaining their perfect start to the season.

Bray and Andy Davies crossed for the hosts in a tight first half at Crouchley Lane before Adam Fletcher’s side picked up after the break.

Tom Bray, Oli Higginson and James Kimber secured a bonus-point victory, their fifth win from five, to keep them top of the Northern Premier table, with Cormac Nolan converting four of their five tries.

However, Lymm captain Bray says the team know the areas in which they need to improve, starting with a trip to Hull on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

“The penalty count is still too high and we need to be more clinical when we get into the opposition red zone,” he said.

“If we can get these right then we can definitely step up a gear.”

After conceding the game’s first try early on, Lymm responded when Richard McEvoy and Lucas Titherington linked up well to send Bray rampaging over.

Wirral kicked a penalty to regain the lead, but the hosts hit the front just before the break after they secured possession from a lineout and put in some strong drives to produce a gap in the visiting defence and allow Davies to skip over.

Bray’s brother Tom came on in the unfamiliar position of flanker but scored with his first touch after Scott Redfern executed a loop to create an extra man, allowing Joe Denman to gain good yards and find Bray on his inside to gallop over.

Another Wirral penalty reduced the deficit, but Higginson secured the bonus point for Lymm before Kimber finished off another fine phase of attacking play to round off the scoring.

Lymm: Gavin Woods, Adam Bray, Dan Horton, Will Baldwin, Matty Connolly, Sam Mullarkey, Ali Sutherland, Oli Higginson; Andy Davies, Scott Redfern; Joe Denman, James Kimber, Richard McEvoy, Lucas Titherington, Cormac Nolan. Subs: Matty Hand, Tom Bray, Will Titherington.

Rochdale 2nd 5 Lymm 2nd 14

AFTER a scoreless arm wrestle of a first half, Lymm produced just enough to come away from Rochdale with a victory.

The visitors struggled for rhythm early on, giving away seven penalties in the opening 15 minutes, but their defence held firm under pressure.

After the break, it took 15 minutes for the deadlock to be broken as Rhys Jones sent Jack Worton through and he rounded the full-back to score, with Jones adding the extras.

Shortly afterwards, Josh Davies broke through midfield and handed on to James Yates, who found the supporting Reece Forrest to cross. Jones was again on target with the extras.

Rochdale scored an unconverted try late on, but Lymm held on for victory.

Lymm: A Kerr, J Harper, O Thornton, J Yates, H Baldwin, K O'Callaghan, A Stewart, S Phelan; T Phillips, R Jones; R Forrest, T Baker, J Davies, L Critchley, J Worton. Sub: L Coates.

Aldwinians 3rd 29 Lymm 3rd 12

HAVING travelled with only 14 players, Lymm battled hard but came up short at Aldwinians.

The hosts took full advantage of the extra man in the first half, running in three tries to lead 19-0 at the break and leave Lymm fearing a heavy defeat.

To their eternal credit, however, the visitors came out fighting after the interval and Sam Fisher dived on a loose ball to score after a home error.

James Pitcher then crossed after stealing the ball in the tackle, but Aldwinians scored twice more before the final whistle.

Lymm: David Coon, James Pitcher, Chris Barrett, Stu Barnes, Dan Pottress, Ollie Chesworth, Richie Bancroft; Sam Fisher, Josh Hamer; Aiden Gunner, Jim France, Jorge Reynolds, Josh McLean, Ollie Pitcher.