Lymm 38 Vale of Lune 38

LYMM will be disappointed with a draw against Vale of Lune even when taking injury woes into account.

They gave up a 21-7 first-half cushion and led 35-26 with eight minutes to go but conceded a try on the stroke of full-time and were then grateful for the conversion being put wide in order not to become the first side to lose to North Premier's bottom club Vale of Lune this term.

Things had already turned sour enough, with Andy Davies bowing out late on due to a dislocated shoulder. And teenage centre James Rooney and returning Dan Horton departed with injuries in the opening 25 minutes, forcing the reshuffle of a team that had only five players starting in the same shirt they had been wearing at Kirkby Lonsdale the previous week.

Despite those circumstances tries from prop Matty Hand, captain Adam Bray and Jake Ashall put Lymm in command.

But in the space of less than 15 minutes either side of the interval Lymm conceded 19 points without reply and needed a spark from somewhere.

Ali Sutherland, now at number eight after starting on the wing, powered over from the base of a scrum and then Bray scored Lymm's fifth try in the 72nd minute.

A Vale of Lune try made it tense again at 35-33 and when awarded a penalty with one minute remaining Tom Shard kicked his sixth goal of the afternoon from 40 metres.

But there was still time left on the clock for the visitors to win possession from the restart and batter the Lymm line into submission.

Coach Adam Fletcher said: "We need to up our work rate in defence and work hard on making our tackle height lower and more effective. We need to keep positive and keep working hard at training."

Lymm: Gav Woods, Dan Horton, Matty Hand, Will Baldwin, Zak Lythgoe, Matty Connolly, Joe Watson, Adam Bray, Andy Davies, Tom Shard, Luke Richards, Ben Stansfield, James Rooney, Ali Sutherland, Scott Redfern. Rep: Jordan Widdrington, Jake Ashall, Josh Davies.

Preston Grasshoppers 2nd 24 Lymm 2nd 40

AN inexperienced Lymm side, considerably smaller than their opponents, produced the goods at a ground where they have a poor record.

With conceding a try shortly before the interval, the first try of the second half was important and it came in the shape of hooker James Pitcher's hat-trick score.

Alfie Simpson's conversion and a follow-up penalty put Lymm out of reach at 37-19.

Henry Simpson crossed for Lymm's other try.

This Saturday there will be another tough challenge as top-of-the-table Candy visit Beechwood.

Lymm: J Hamer, J Reynolds, J Davies, J Hadland, R Forrest, A Simpson, H Simpson, M Hill, R Lilley, R Riddell, H Baldwin, B Rees, J Sherlock , J Pitcher, N Ashton, Rep: K Soni