Vale of Lune 24 Lymm 33

RICHARD Halford and Aaron Rasheed scored a hat-trick of tries as Lymm eased their relegation fears with a key victory over fellow strugglers Vale of Lune.

Adam Fletcher’s side had to repel a late fightback from the hosts after watching his side go 33-5 up at one stage of the second half.

Scott Redfern also crossed for the visitors as they earned a crucial bonus point, with Tom Shard adding four conversions.

They had to weather a late storm as a period of indiscipline saw them reduced to 13 men at one point, with Redfern, Richard McEvoy and Cashel Chilvers all spending time in the sin-bin.

Vale of Lune took full advantage to score three tries and earn themselves a four-try bonus point, but Lymm’s defensive poise returned once they returned to having a full compliment of players on the field.

With Kendal – the team directly below them in the North Premier table – losing, Lymm have now opened up a seven-point gap between themselves and trouble.

Fletcher’s side have six games of the season remaining, starting with a home game against Alnwick on Saturday, March 2.

Lymm: Gav Woods, Adam Bray, Jordan Widdrington, Matty Connolly, Aaron Rasheed, Jake Ashall, James Pitcher, Joe Watson; Tom Shard, Tom Bray; Richard McEvoy, James Kimber, Ben Stansfield, Richard Halford, Scott Redfern. Subs: Dan Horton, Cashel Chilvers, Tom Baker