Squad strength comes to the fore at Lymm

ADAM Fletcher hopes averting a run of four defeats will provide a lift ahead of Saturday’s trip to unbeaten league leaders Huddersfield.

Despite squad injury issues that have led to Lymm sliding towards the bottom end of National League Three North, the Beechwood boys came firing back at the weekend.

“A much needed win for the boys,” said coach Adam Fletcher.

“We have really been tested over the past few weeks with a growing injury list and player unavailability.

“It is a testament to our squad depth that we can still turn over a good team like Waterloo.”

For this clash against a Waterloo side still seeking a first win this term, skipper Adam Bray moved to hooker in place of Ross White, who was rested due to concussion.

More adjustments included prop Mike Auden playing second row and Tom Shard, recovered from a broken arm, coming in at scrum half.

The further return of Richard McEvoy and James Kimber brought some much needed pace and zip to the back line.

McEvoy made good yards before recycled ball allowed Sam Mullarkey to pick a great line and go over for an early try, with Shard adding the first of his afternoon’s extras The game settled down with Waterloo probing but the Lymm defence was good and knocked the away side’s advances back.

Joe Knowles, after gathering a kick in the Lymm 25-metre area, took the ball over halfway and sent Tom Bray sprinting home.

Next Olli Higginson touched down from the back of a driving maul to take it to 19-0 after 15 minutes.

Despite the score it was not all one-way traffic but Waterloo could not make any headway past the strong Lymm defence.

Some great hits were led by the back row trio of Mullarkey, Jake Ashall and Adam Bray.

The rest of the half petered out with Lymm being guilty of their usual failing of all too easily spilling or turning over the ball.

Lymm came out for the second half far sharper, recording the bonus-point try through Higginson getting on the end of a speculative hoist into the in-goal area.

Mullarkey soon added a carbon copy of his first-minute try, picking another great line to sprint over.

Waterloo crossed from close quarters before Jordan Widdrington controlled a catch and drive to flop over and Mullarkey secured his hat-trick.

Lymm: Dan Horton, Adam Bray, Jordan Widdrington, Mike Auden, Jake Ashall, Sam Mullarkey, Oli Higginson, Tom Shard, Will Titherington, Chris Owen, Tom Bray, Richard McEvoy, James Kimber, Joe Knowles. Replacements: James Yates, Cormac Nolan, Michael Floyd.