Billingham 26
Lymm 10

In what was always considered a very tough opening fixture, to start the 2018/19 campaign, Lymm travelled to County Durham to face a very belligerent Billingham on a sparkling 3G artificial grass pitch. If the pitch has anything to do with the home side’s improved form, we can surely expect good things when a similarly new pitch is laid at Beechwood in 2019, if the RFU keep their promise.

Conditions were sunny with a breeze that gave no side an advantage as it blew sidewards across the playing surface. The early indications were not promising as Billingham stole line out balls, dominated the scrum and started to build pressure on the visitors. Andy Davies cleared the ball with his customary efficiency but the screw kept turning and Billingham dominated territorially. It was apparent that Lymm had trained well in the summer and this has produced a lean, speedy team. However, the size and bulk of the Billingham side was to prove decisive as the afternoon wore on. The home back row player, Dan Dixon, hardly a shrinking wall flower, made his considerable presence and bulk felt throughout the match, until he visibly tired later on. However, following a build-up of pressure in Lymm’s 22, Dixon eventually burst through for an unconverted try after 11 minutes.

Eventually Lymm started to put the phases together and we saw the skill levels that took this team so far last term. That man Dixon then legally floored Davies as he tried to get the ball away but an off-side Lymm player resulted in a penalty to Billingham taking the score to 8-0 after 25 minutes, having previously missed one 5 minutes earlier. Lymm then put their attacking rolling maul into good effect but Billingham were as determined to run the ball, spreading it wide, as the visitors were. Another attacking line out, just when Lymm were building up a head of steam, was lost and the home side ran it the length of the pitch, scoring a second try after 31 minutes, taking the score to 13-0.

The visiting spectators were talking about Lymm’s ring rustiness but the amount of line outs that were being lost was now reaching epidemic proportions. A penalty and yellow card for Lymm centre Jake Maher for a high tackle, was awarded to the home side. Intent on keeping the scoreboard ticking over, the penalty was missed, as the half came to a close.

Coach Adam Fletcher’s stern words at half time galvanised the visitors and a series of well executed phases and slick inter-passing led to Full Back Cormac Nolan scoring after 45 minutes, making it 13-5. A penalty for not releasing was then awarded to Billingham who extended the lead to 16-5 after 49 minutes. Lymm’s set piece continued to look fragile both at the line out and scrum. This provided no platform for Lymm to play their usual open running style and it was to prove their undoing. The kicking game was gaining yardage and giving them good positions but time and again they were losing the subsequent line outs and Billingham simply took full advantage. Then a  good break by slimline prop Gav Woods up the middle, led to Nolan feeding centre Maher to score after 60 mins but no conversion.

16-10 and light at the end of the tunnel, although the missed conversions were to be rued. With 15 minutes to go, could Lymm produce the coup de gras, or was that artificial gras? Lymm’s tails were up with James Kimber showing good running form throughout, but optimism was knocked when key playmaker and scrum half Andy Davies left the field with a head injury. Nolan took over scrum half duties, Joe Denman, in his final match before he pursues a football career, went from wing to full back, Matty Connelly replacing him on the wing.

A difficult situation then became impossible when a defensive line out was, once again lost in the Lymm 22 and Billingam scored, 21-10 with 10 minutes remaining. The visitors’ heads went down and the subsequent restart kick was to prove decisive. That man Dixon, while hardly scampering round the field as the match came to its conclusion, made every touch tell. He caught the kick-off, broke through a couple of questionable tackles to release his second row who galloped 30m and set up a well executed phase of passing for the winger to score on the right, 26 -10 after 71 minutes. A bonus point to the home side and any chance of a losing point gone for the visitors. Lymm’s fitness will stand them in good stead as the season matures and Billingham visibly tired but their defending remained resolute till the final whistle. Billingham were bigger, determined and more clinical compared to a level of sloppiness from the visitors. There were a moments when Lymm may have gone on to win this game but inaccurate execution was to prove their undoing. These problems are solvable and no doubt top of coach Fletcher’s agenda in the weeks to come.

Next Saturday, Lymm are at home to Rossendale who had an excellent home win against much fancied Hull RUFC, who finished second in the league last season.

Teamsheet:

Gav Woods, Rob Makin, Matty Hand, Matty Connelly, Aaron Rashid, Sam Mullarkey, Adam Bray (C), Ollie Higginson, Andy Davies, Tom Bray, Joe Denman, James Kimber, Jake Maher, Ali Sutherland, Cormac Nolan. Replacements: Dan Horton, Joe Watson.