Lymm 23 Wirral 34

WHILE a good finish to the game earned some respectability on the scoreboard, this was a damaging defeat for Lymm.

After some encouraging displays before the Christmas break, Adam Fletcher’s side were hoping for a home win to open 2019 that would allow them to climb away from the Northern Premier relegation zone.

However, they came up against a Wirral side who clearly had not read the script.

Lymm’s ninth defeat of the campaign – already two more than they suffered in the entirety of last season – means they remain deep in trouble.

Wirral scored two early tries to take command of proceedings, but Lymm full-back Cormac Nolan kicked two penalties to at least keep his side in touch.

As the half progressed, however, the visitors upped the intensity and Lymm were not helped by yellow cards for Richard Halford and Jake Ashall.

Wirral took advantage with another try, although Nolan booted over another three points to give Lymm a glimmer of hope at the break as they trailed by 10 points.

That hope was extinguished almost immediately, however, as a dropped ball from the restart set up an attack which led to Wirral’s fourth try.

With a bonus point now secure, the visitors crossed twice more to end the game as a contest with the score at 34-9.

To their eternal credit, though, Lymm did not give up and, aided by two Wirral sin-binnings, finished the game on top.

Jordan Widdrington and Tom Shard crossed late on to ensure they would not go without a try, but they never fully threatened a comeback.

Things do not get much easier for Fletcher’s men, with a trip to third-place Blaydon looming large on Saturday, kick off 2.15pm.

Lymm: Gavin Woods, Adam Bray, Matty Hand, Matty Connelly, Joe Watson, James Pitcher, Jake Ashall, Ali Sutherland; Tom Shard, Scott Redfern; Luke Richards, James Kimber, Richard Halford, Ali Wealthall, Cormac Nolan. Subs: Jordan Widdrington, Will Baldwin, Joe Senior.