Lymm RFC v Hornets RFC – Saturday 14th March 2026

Dear Members, Guests, Sponsors and Friends of Lymm Rugby Club,

“Welcome to Hornets RFC”  – This Saturday, we welcome Hornets RFC to Beechwood, and once again as with many of the sides we play in the West League, it is for their first ever visit and our second encounter.

Hornets RFC are based in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset and were formed in 1962. Probably one of the only teams in our current league who are younger than we are!

Hornets run 3 senior teams, a ladies team and a full range of junior teams. Their first XV was promoted into the National 2 league from the South West Premiere in 2022. This is one season before Lymm were promoted into the National 2 league. Hornets have an impressive history of achievements over the years and continue to focus on being a community focused rugby club. They are committed to fostering rugby at all levels, from youth to senior teams. The club also emphasises community involvement and aims to provide opportunities for players of all ages, contributing to the local sports culture in Weston-super-Mare.

Once again, as I am sure you will agree from this short overview, there are a lot of similarities between our two clubs.

Round 21 took our 1st team away to 12th place Exeter University, another first-time visit away to an opponent in the National 2 West League.

Having stayed overnight in a hotel next to the Exeter Chiefs ground, it was another trip down memory lane and “Back to University” for me. Having travelled down on the Friday evening with little or no travel disruptions, unlike some of our previous long journeys to the southwest, we had a leisurely morning before driving the short distance to the University campus for a 14:00 KO. The campus was buzzing and lively with a multitude of students carrying their kit-of-choice to reflect the many sports that are played and watched at the University of Exeter Sports Park, with its many first-class facilities. The leisurely feeling prior to arriving at the campus was soon dispelled once the game started !!

Our previous meeting with Exeter University was a high scoring game with a total of 13 tries, generating a 48-40 win for Lymm. This return match was similar with 11 tries and a 33-42 win for Lymm. Only our second “home and away double” in the west league this season. We had to dig deep throughout the game and show tremendous character in defeating a very spirited and competent student team. The job was made even more difficult with 1 red and 2 yellow cards given to Lymm players, which meant that we played with only 14 men for the majority of the second half.

It was encouraging to see the collective spirit that grew within the team as the match progressed, and which will hopefully continue to develop over the rest of the season and help to carry the team higher up the league table. A tremendous, gutsy performance by Lymm who, to a man, gave their all.  Whilst this was as much a team effort as anything else, it would be remiss not to reference the standout performances and true leadership shown by Oli Higginson and Rhys Lilly throughout the 80 minutes – they were both truly immense.

This weekend we enter round 22 of the 2025/26 season and with 21 games played so far, we are in 8th place with a total of 54 points: 40 points from 10 wins plus 14 bonus points. The middle of the table is currently very tight, with only 1 point between 8th and 11th place.  Below the 11th spot the gap extends by a further 11 points, so every game to the end of the season is important for this group of mid-table teams to ensure that they don’t fall into the relegation zone.

An excellent full match report by Andy Leach, can be read on the club website via the following link;

Lymm 2’s lost to Caldy 2’s in the semi-final of their cup competition; 0-48

Lymm 3’s lost to Macclesfield 3’s at Beechwood; 10-34. A report of the game can be read on the club website via the following link;