WITH Lymm having secured their North Premier League status the previous weekend, it was perhaps understandable the team's performance level would drop in the final game of the season at home to Billingham.

Lymm head coach Adam Fletcher accepted that 35-7 victors Billingham were clearly the better side on Saturday.

"Billingham were more accurate, physical and creative than we were. They fully deserved the five points," he said.

"We probably used the last bit of our reserves at Sandal last week and I think that showed in our performance."

He also remained philosophical about the campaign as a whole, one that brought only eight wins and two draws from 26 games.

"It's another season completed at level five, so once we sit back and reflect we can be happy with what we have achieved."

The suggestion is that Lymm, who do not pay their players, continue to punch above their weight and will aim to do so again in what will be a 10th season at this level when September comes around.

A campaign troubled by injury also has to be taken into account when assessing the squad's offering in 2018-19.

Numerous colts have gained valuable experience as a result and the squad for the new term has potential to be stronger as a result.

Lymm fielded three under 18s players in their starting line-up on Saturday, which is thought to be a first.

Having been forced into changes, back-row forward Jake Ashall formed an unlikely centre partnership with colt George Norman, whose previous first-team experience had been on the wing.

Joe Johnson and Alfie Simpson were the other starting colts and it was Norman who created the only Lymm score of the game, three minutes from time.

Norman had the confidence to take on the Billingham left wing on the outside, beat him for pace and then draw the last defender with a well-timed pass that allowed the supporting Lymm man-of- the-match Aaron Rasheed to cross, with Tom Shard Shard converting.

Lymm: Gav Woods, Adam Bray, Jordan Widdrington, Matty Connolly, Aaron Rasheed, Rob Makin, Joe Johnson, Joe Watson, Tom Shard, Scott Redfern, James Kimber, Jake Ashall, George Norman, Luke Richards, Alfie Simpson. Replacements: Nick Ashton, James Lewis, Rick Halford.

Lymm's seconds, 82-17 victors at Waterloo, have one more league match away to Blackburn on Saturday, April 27th, followed by their appearance in the Robinsons Brewery Cup Final on Saturday, May 4, kick-off 3.30pm at Oldham RUFC.

n WARRINGTON also ended the campaign with defeat after having staved off the threat of relegation seven days earlier.

But Andy Roberts' side led Birkenhead going into the late stages before falling 26-17 at home.

“The result could have gone either way," said Roberts.

“However, this has been a long and difficult season and we can now look forward to four months off before we face what could prove to be an even harder challenge next term.”

As a result of the 13th loss in 26 outings, Warrington's term ended in ninth spot in North One West.

Warrington, who twice came from behind, leaked two late tries after leading 17-12 with 15 minutes to go.

To level matters early on, Sean Callander broke from a set scrum, Kieran Hughes made ground before putting in a beautiful grubber kick which was seized on by Nathan Beesley for a try converted by Darren Norman.

Park crossed again but then Jonny Evans broke through three tackles and the forwards recycled the ball which passed through eight pairs of hands before Beesley finished off in the corner for 12-12 at the break.

Energetic scrum-half Jack Hannon made a telling break for Beesley to scorch over for his hat-trick try but Warrington could not hold on to their advantage.