Cleckheaton 25 Lymm 18

A LOSING bonus point was all that third-placed Lymm brought home from West Yorkshire in a rearranged National League Three North game with relegation threatened hosts.

Richard McEvoy's penalty success 10 minutes from time tied the scores as the spoils looked set to be shared in an uninspiring game.

But a converted interception try on the final whistle gifted Cleckheaton an unexpected lifeline in their bid to avoid dropping out of the league.

Lymm were left to reflect on a lacklustre display resulting in a slide down to fifth place and they will need to sharpen up considerably away to runaway league leaders Sheffield Tigers on Saturday.

Four regular squad props were unavailable at the weekend, but former colts Oscar McCormack and Kieron O’Callaghan stepped up and did not look out of place.

Lymm, although lacking motivation and cohesion, did fight back in the second half from 11-3 down to lead 15-11 An interval ear lashing from captain Adam Bray seemed to spark some life into the players.

Outside centre Rick Halford, from his own 10m mark, galloped 40 metres before McEvoy was sent to the line.

And a repeat performance from Halford allowed the other winger Mark Wells to put the ball down, with McEvoy converting.

But a high tackle resulted in Bray being shown a yellow card and Cleckheaton's pack force Lymm's reduced numbers over their line for a converted try for 18-15.

McEvoy's clinical boot from 35 metres levelled things up before the final act of drama.

Lymm: Mike Auden, Ross White, Oscar McCormack, Will Baldwin, Zak Lythgoe, Adam Bray, Jack Harper, Olli Higginson, Tom Baker, Tom Bray, Richard McEvoy, Richard Halford, Callum Harris, Mark Wells, Joe Knowles. Replacements: Kieron O’Callaghan, Tom Shard, Aaron Rasheed.