LYMM opened their National League Three North campaign with a 27-15 win at Billingham on Saturday.

Billingham’s immediate attempts to run the ball out from their own half were met by a wall of determined tacklers.

Their frustration yielded the first scrum and the Lymm eight shunted them backwards in impressive fashion.

This aspect of the game was one which Lymm dominated throughout and it gave an early platform for the centre combination of Ollie Higginson and Tom Bray to test the home side’s defence to its limits.

Several times in the first 10 minutes it seemed Lymm must score, however a missed penalty kick at goal was the only reward.

Lymm failed to secure their first line out and wasted the attacking opportunity it offered, but despite this setback Lymm prevented Billingham from crossing the half way line with ball in hand.

Lymm mounted wave after wave of attacks with wingers Giles Dougdale and Mark Wells almost scoring.

The first try came when Jake Ashall, bravely and cleverly stole the ball at a lineout to create the momentum for a period of forward dominance with driving mauls and dynamic rucking leading finally to full back Joe Knowles running an excellent line going over in the right wing corner.

This reversal jolted Billingham into their best spell of the half giving Lymm a taste of defending close the try line.

Again Ashall was prominent securing loose ball at the feet of the Billingham pack.

Lymm were then reduced to 14 men defending a line out, when Alex Kaihu was yellow-carded for a technical offence with eight minutes to go before half time.

Despite this disadvantage, Lymm retained their scrummaging superiority and the lead to half time.

The second half started with a spirited comeback from Billingham and they quickly drew level with a kick to the corner for the winger to collect.

Lymm then went straight back onto the attack knowing that they needed to compensate for a bit of careless play.

Again the centres Bray and Higginson were breaking the gain line as they relished a good supply of ball from the forwards.

This gave half backs Tom Baker and Rhys Jones time and space to initiate multiple attacking options.

Dougdale came into the line from his wing to make a telling run through the midfield but it was the other winger Mark Wells who got in at the corner for a well taken try.

Richard McEvoy came off the bench onto the right wing to make a significant impact on Lymm’s second half fortunes.

He started with a strong run taking play deep into Billingham territory, where again Lymm exerted scrum pressure.

Adam Bray from number eight, then set up a driving maul and Rhys Jones got over for Richard McEvoy to convert.

Billingham responded quickly giving their winger enough room to sprint over in the corner.

Lymm then endured a lengthy spell of pressure defending almost on the try line but Adam Bray led the breakout and Tom Baker made a good kick to touch to ease the pressure.

Lymm then got back their dominance and almost scored when Dougdale’s long break heading to finish under the posts was stopped by a desperate, fingertip, ankle tap.

Another attack going right was then switched left giving Zak Lythgoe the opportunity to show that there is more to his game, as a second rower, than pushing and shoving.

Finding himself in the outside centre position he made the the pass of the day long and wide to gave Joe Knowles a run in at the corner and a canter between the posts for his second try and another conversion by McEvoy.

Once again Billingham responded with a try but McEvoy sealed victory with a final penalty to leave Lymm worthy victors, a fact generously acknowledged by the home supporters.

On this evidence Lymm should feel confident as they host newly-promoted Ilkley at Beechwood on Saturday.

Lymm coach Adam Fletcher reflected after the game that it was a win founded on the hard work and pre-season commitment of the whole squad and his assistant coaches.

Confirming his belief that it was a team effort, he declined to name any player for special praise.

Next Saturday Lymm are at home to newly promoted Ikley, kick off 3pm.

Team: Jordan Widdrington, Ross White, Nick Ashton, Alex Kahui, Zak Lythgoe, Joe McGrail, Jake Ashall, Adam Fletcher (C), Tom Baker, Rhys Jones, Mark Wells, Oli Higginson, Tom Bray, Giles Dougdale, Joe Knowles, Subs: Dan Horton, Aaron Rasheed, Richard McEvoy.

Lymm seconds were 58-14 winners at home to Chester in the Bateman BMW Premier League.

Richard Halford completed a hat-trick for the hosts, while there was also tries for Oscar McCormack, Jack Harper, George Boden and two for Jack Worton. Cormac Nolan proving deadly with the boot.

The conditions were perfect for the start of the new season with Lymm playing in the top division of the Raging Bull Leagues following their promotion.

There was great interest how this young side would cope with the increased intensity and fitness in the new league and they answered with an emphatic victory against a competitive, well-drilled Chester.

Lymm kicked off and showed their intent from the beginning with strong defence and powerful running by the forwards with Darbyshire and Harper to the fore.

After 10 minutes of both sides testing each other out Lymm broke into the Chester half and an offside gave Nolan a chance with the boot.

He took the opportunity to kick a penalty for the first score.

Lymm were now getting on top in the scrum and their aggressive defence driving the Chester attacks back.

After a fine break by Oli Lancaster, Lymm had a scrum 20 metres from the try line.

Scrum Half, George Boden, broke down the blind side and put Richard Halford through a gap and he then ghosted in for an excellent try converted by Cormac Nolan.

More pressure from Lymm, with breaks by Jack Worton and George Boden, ended with a penalty in front of the posts which Cormac Nolan converted to take the score to 13-0.

Lymm were running the ball from everywhere and played the game at a fast pace.

However it was while attempting to run the ball out of their 22 that Chester intercepted to score a converted try.

This didn’t deter Lymm who kept the ball alive and after fluent back play and good support, the dynamic Oscar McCormack got the ball fifteen metres out to power through a tackle and took the full back over the line with him for a converted try.

Chester responded with five minutes of pressure before half time, which Lymm repelled with their swarming defence.

The first 15 minutes of the second half saw Lymm take the game away from Chester with three converted tries.

The first saw the ball moved wide from a scrum and Jack Worton supporting from the opposite wing took a good inside pass to outpace the defence.

Then five minutes later Jack Harper broke through three tackles to score from 15 metres.

The third try was the result of Lymm moving the ball around and going through the phases.

They stretched the Chester defence from one side of the pitch to the other and it was that man Jack Worton again who stepped in at scrum half to scoot down the blindside from 20 metres.

To Chester’s credit they never gave up and for the next fifteen minutes dominated territory and possession and for the first time in the game they started to make inroads into the Lymm defence.

It was from a forward drive and break they scored a converted try.

They continued to press looking for gaps in the home defence but Lymm managed to keep them out.

Eventually the pressure subsided and Lymm broke out for Richard Halford to score a converted try.

A few minutes later Lymm were pressing once again and the ever alert George Boden broke from the base of a ruck to score another converted try.

Then with last play of the game Richard Halford completed his hat trick, which Cormac Nolan converted.

Lymm produced an excellent performance showing great commitment and a willingness to keep the ball alive.

The forwards produced the platform and when Chester had the ball Lymm’s aggressive defence knocked them back.

This side can get better with more training but they showed that they can perform at this level and hopefully will improve as the season goes on.

There were many outstanding performances but in the backs Richard Halford was a constant thorn for Chester with Tom Darbyshire Kieron Williams and Jack Harper leading the charge up front.

Also young Oscar McCormack showed he’s ready to take the step up from Colts Rugby with a strong display.

Next Saturday they face a stern test away to Fylde 2nd.

Team: M Auden, M Gough, O Askew, T Darbyshire, A Halford (C), K Williams, O McCormack, J Harper, G Boden, O Lancaster, J Worton, J Boden, S Gough, C Nolan, R Halford, Reps: J Long, M Hill, A Nolan.

The thirds lost 47-21 at Broughton Park, but it was a 40-10 home success for Lymm fourths against Whitchurch thirds.

Toby Phillips, Jamie Plumb, Luke Richards, Reece Forest and Jack Pilkington among the try scorers.

With a number of Senior Colts making their open age rugby debuts, Lymm started brightly, taking the game to Whitchurch with some excellent handling from all.

Toby Phillips poached the ball from the back of a Whitchurch scrum and scored unopposed under the sticks, and then Jamie Plumb crossed the line following some good phases.

Whitchurch scored their first points after sustained pressure on the Lymm line just before half-time.

The second half followed the same pattern, with Lymm continuing to stretch their lead.

Further tries came from Luke Richards and Reece Forrest with Jack Pilkington scoring the pick of the tries after collecting a chip over the defence and running in from 40m for his second try.

Luke Richards converted five.

Whitchurch scored their second try of the game towards the end to take the score to 40-10.

The club welcomed Paul Evans-Jones on his debut game at Lymm and James Yates following a long lay-off due to injury.

Team: Ollie Chesworth, Ben Wardner, Ben Benson, Jonny Cartwright, Fingleton, James Yates, Joe Rogers, Harvey McCormack, Toby Phillips, Matt Barker, Reece Forrest, John Millachip, Paul Evans-Jones, Jamie Plumb, Dan Masnyk, Subs: Dave Holden, Vishnu Maharaj, Jack Pilkington, Luke Richards, Grant Wesly.