Lymm conclude 2025 with the relatively short trip along the M56 to Vicker’s Cross to play Chester in National League 2 West’s Cheshire derby.  For both clubs, the fixture provides a welcome respite from the hours spent travelling up and down the M5 and M6 so far this season.  Unlike pretty much every other club in this league, Chester are well known to Lymm and the rivalry between the two clubs is both long and broad covering senior rugby, colts, junior and mini rugby age groups.  There are many similarities and connections between the two clubs with both benefitting from the installation in 2018/9 of RFU Rugby 365 Artificial Grass Pitches; both having extremely strong M&J sections (I believe the two biggest in the county); Chester having used Lymm Panto scripts in the past for their own fundraising; and the occasional player moving between the two clubs.

Chester, who are celebrating their centenary this year, were promoted to National League 2 in the 2012/13 season and have remained at this level for the 12 subsequent seasons, quite an achievement.  Indeed, in one season reaching the play-off for promotion to National League 1, only to fall short in that losing at Canterbury.

The RFU records (which appear to go back to 2004) show that the 2 clubs have met previously in League fixtures 15 times, with Chester winning 10 and Lymm 5.  The average score across these 15 fixtures being 29-21 in Chester’s favour.  Closer inspection though shows that the last three fixtures played since 2013 at National League 2 level, have all gone Lymm’s way – a record which Chester will be certain to want to change on Saturday.  If the last match at Lymm in early September is anything to go by, this one should be another nip and tuck affair.  On that occasion Lymm raced out to a 24-5 halftime lead, seemingly well in control, when a Chester fightback almost upset the apple cart, with Lymm taking the win by the narrow margin of 27-24, and Chester scoring 4 tries to Lymm’s 3!

Chester currently sit 10^th in the league on 32 points (5 wins; 1 draw; 7 losses) with Lymm in 7^th on 37 points (7/0/6).  Of the 8 matches that the two teams have played in common (Syston (H); Old Redcliffians (A); Exeter University (H); Hornets (A); Taunton (H); Barnstaple (A); Cinderford (H); Luctonians (A)) Lymm’s record is better with 5 wins compared with Chester’s 4, and a points record of 256-237 against 234-266.  However, Chester will no doubt be in a positive frame of mind given home advantage and that they are coming off the back of an away draw at Loughborough Students; whereas Lymm are having to pick themselves up after a home loss to Cinderford.

The Lymm squad for the match shows 4 changes from the Cinderford encounter with Joe Higgins, Tom Elphick, Rob Makin and Tom Shard replacing Ben Lilley, Joe Senior, Jack Lightbown and Cormac Nolan.  The match will also mark Alfie Simpson’s 50^th appearance for Lymm First XV, a great achievement for Alfie who has been playing at Lymm since the age of 5!

As the Chester website puts it – this will be a Christmas Cracker of a match!

The 2nd XV also play Chester this Saturday at home KO 2pm.

Andy Leach