Cleckheaton 13 Lymm 17

LYMM will aim for three wins on the trot for only the second time this season when they entertain Huddersfield YMCA on Saturday, kick off 2.15pm.

Eighth hosts ninth at Crouchley Lane, with Lymm going into the National League Three North clash in buoyant mood after ending Cleckheaton's 18-month unbeaten home record at the weekend.

After trailing 3-0 playing into a stiff breeze in the first half, tries from Jake Ecclestone and Joe Knowles helped them build a 14-point advantage and they secured victory despite two unconverted tries from the Yorkshiremen in the last five minutes.

“That was a mature performance and I think we have turned the corner," said head coach Adam Fletcher after his side backed up a previous victory against another higher-placed side in Rossendale.

“The front five really took them on in the scrum and we identified a weakness, winning seven of their lineouts.

“I am delighted and feel we could have a good run-in for the rest of the season if we keep working at it.”

Fletcher had perhaps the strongest set of forwards available to him all season, with Adam Bray back at hooker and Irish recruit Andrew Kerr at number eight.

Going toe-to-toe up front with some success they did not let him down, neither did debutant Rhys Jones at fly half partnering young George Boaden at scrum half.

Lymm have been without a true fly half until this game all season and Jones, despite the odd poor pass, took his opportunity and did the simple things well.

The backs looked increasingly dangerous as the game wore on, Ecclestone, at outside centre, particularly catching the eye with his bullocking and elusive runs.

At the start of the second half Cleckheaton kicked poorly against the wind into the welcoming arms of full back Knowles.

With space on the right Knowles rounded the first line of defence, passed sweetly to Cormac Nolan who flew down his wing, drew the last man and fed Ecclestone who dived over for a spectacular opening Lymm score, duly converted by Cormac Nolan.

Cleckheaton came back with force but Lymm, with a particularly meaty back row of Jake Ashall, Andrew Kerr and Sam Mullarkey, were tackling everything that moved.

The Lymm counter-attacked from a clearing kick, with left winger Andy Rowley spinning out of a tackle to penetrate deep into enemy territory.

The ball was moved quickly out to Knowles on the right, who beat three men to score a great individual try, also converted by Nolan, for 14-3 after 52 minutes.

From an attacking lineout Cleckheaton were penalised and Nolan completed Lymm's winning score with 15 minutes to go.

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