1st XV v Barnstaple – Saturday 26th September 2026

Lymm embark on their first long away trip and overnight stay this weekend as they head to North Devon to face Barnstaple.  Last season was the first occasion that the two clubs had faced each other with Barum prevailing on both occasions.  The match at Pottington Road last December was a gritty, close encounter played in very difficult conditions which ended 19-12 in favour of the home side.  The return visit was in April this year, where Barnstaple raced to a 21-0 lead from which Lymm were unable to recover, the match closing out at 26-10.

At this very early stage of the season Lymm find themselves in 5^th place in the table (with 2 wins), whilst Barnstaple are 12^th (with one win), however anyone with a basic understanding of this league will consider that, on paper, Barum have had the harder fixtures to date.  With past results in this fixture, home advantage and, no doubt, a sizeable partisan crowd behind them, Barnstaple will start as firm favourites to continue their unbeaten record against Lymm.  However, Lymm will travel in a positive frame of mind with a squad that, due to injuries and other reasons, will look quite different to the one that took to the field in December.

One hope in the minds of the Lymm contingent travelling to North Devon this weekend is that weather will be considerably more benign than greeted them last time…