Broughton Park RFC...20

Lymm RFC...15

HEAVY showers, swirling winds and a treacherous ground made conditions difficult for this keenly contested North Two West encounter between eighth-placed Lymm and their hosts, one place lower.

Park scored a try and conversion within the first five minutes to reflect their dominance of the early play. Park went further ahead on the half hour with another try.

This appeared to sting Lymm's forwards into action and following a succession of driving mauls Paul McGuire forced his way over for a try.

The score was brought to 15-8 with an exchange of penalties before half-time, Lymm's effort being well struck by Richard Hopkinson.

The second half became more and more a hard fought contest between the two packs of forwards but mostly played in the Lymm half.

Lymm eventually drew level as a result of inspired play by full back Hopkinson, who fielded a kick near the left touchline inside his own 22. He bounced out of a would-be tackle, spun away on a 50-yard run towards the opposite touchline to find support from debut stand off Paul Thatcher who exchanged passes with Hopkinson to defeat the cover before giving the scoring pass to Andy Holloway. It was quite possibly the try of the year and certainly the best move of this match.

While the Lymm spectators were settling for a 15-15 draw as a fair reflection of this game, Park made one last effort and scored another try in the final minutes.

Lymm look to be safe from relegation having one more match remaining against Aldwinians at Lymm on a date yet to be agreed but probably the weekend of May 12.

Lymm's much postponed game with Penrith will not be played owing to the foot-and-mouth crisis in Cumbria.