Bournville 43 – 38 Lymm

Lymm pay for slow start

Lymm, for what is known as a derby in this league, travelled to Birmingham-based Bournville, who were promoted back into National League 2 this season, but are not new opponents. These two teams met in the Midlands Regional Premier League in the 2013/14 season when Lymm narrowly won 23-20 victory at Crouchley Lane, followed by a 16-16 draw in Birmingham.

On a dull, cloudy day, with a hint of rain and facing a slight breeze in their faces, Lymm looked threatening early on as they went through their paces. However, it was the early enterprise of an accurate kick from the host’s fly half to an open space on the left for the winger to collect and score near the posts, making it 7 – 0 after 3 minutes with the easy conversion.

Then began the story of the day. Lymm’s first line out was not taken cleanly and this became something of a pattern. Good attacking positions were undermined, time and again, by poor line out execution which Bournville took full advantage of.

Also Lymm were looking scratchy and unsettled in the first twenty minutes and could not generate their usual rhythm. After Lymm lost their third line out, the hosts conducted a series of forward drives towards the line which eventually resulted in a try near the posts. 14 – 0 after 18 minutes. This was followed by a successful penalty, from 40m out, for hanging onto the ball in the tackle – 17 – 0 after 24 mins.

Bournville knocked-on at the restart but then pushed Lymm off the ball at the scrum, albeit for the first and only time in the match. The ball was moved well giving the hosts another converted try – 24 – 0 after 26 minutes and Lymm were staring down the barrel. All this was underpinned by workmanlike defence from Bournville who were worthy leaders at this point.

A spark was needed and that was provided by Lymm’s scrum half Tom Manaton who used his great speed off the mark, darting towards the tryline on the left. However, his speculative pass inside was not taken by a supporting colleague. Then it was fly half Tom Shard’s turn to break the line and this led to a try by prop Ben Lilley under the posts – 24 – 7 after Shard’s conversion on 34 mins.

Eventually Lymm did win their own line out, in an attacking position midway in the host’s 22 and former Colt Jamie Cope, newly promoted to hooker for the first time, darted over following a number of forward drives, making it 24 – 14 as the half time whistle went, to the relief of the away supporters.

Half time: Bournville 24 – 14 Lymm

Despite losing yet another of their own line outs in an attacking position from a high tackle penalty, Manaton took a very quick tap penalty from 50m out and this time, beating three would-be tacklers, scored an excellent try near the posts. 24 – 21 after 44 mins and Lymm was back in it.

Just when Lymm thought they had a foothold in the game, Bournville started to build the pressure. An attacking line out in Lymm’s 22, followed by another series of forward drives, gave the hosts a try wide out. 29 – 21 with the missed conversion, on the hour mark.

Now it became a game of tit-for-tat as centre Jack Reynolds scored a good, bonus point try under the posts, following slick hands and a great drive by replacement prop Fin Williams. 29 – 28 after 58 mins, and all to play for.

But Bournville were having none of it and scored a converted try, to huge cheers from the home crowd, as the clock ticked down – 36 – 28 on 68 mins.

Then came, arguably the try of the game. Centre Jack Reynolds, from 25m out, skipped through a series of half-tackles. His footwork was a sight to behold as he jinked through to score his second, near the posts for a straightforward conversion from Shard – 36 – 35 on 69 mins, and a glimmer of hope remained for the visitors.

But that was not the end. Not even the beginning of the end as Bournville seemed determined to snuff out any threat with a final try to huge applause and cheers from the swollen balcony of support behind the sticks. 43 – 35 and time nearly finished.

The difference was now two scores apart so, when Lymm were awarded a penalty 35m out on 79 mins, skipper Shard scored the requisite three points, with the last kick of the game, to preserve the second bonus point. The game concluded at 43 – 38.

Full time: Bournville 43 – 38 Lymm

With so many of their own line outs lost, often in key attacking positions, Lymm failed to create the platform for a significant push for the scores that would overcome the opposition. Bournville, clearly stung by the heavy away defeat the previous week at Redruth, responded with passion, no little guile, and were worthy winners on the day.

Andy Davies, Head Coach had this to say: ‘We struggled to get any rhythm in the game due to not being able to secure our own ball throughout the match.

‘We actually did very well to get back in it after going down 24-0 but then we were naïve and lacked concentration in key moments. Still lots to learn for this young side,’ he concluded.

Team: 1. Ben Lilley (45), 2. Jamie Cope* (5), 3. Matthew Hand * (139), 4. Josh Maskery (13), 5. Nathan Ovien (2), 6. Jack Stride* (42), 7. Olly McCarthy (80), 8. Rhys Lilly* (97), 9. Tom Manaton (51), 10. Tom Shard (C)* (168), 11. Joe Heaton * (22), 12. Jack Reynolds (54), 13. James Hampson (2), 14. Andy Williams* (32), 15. Alfie Simpson* (57)
Finishers: 16. Joe Higgins* (42), 17. Dalitso Ngoma (20), 18. Rory Cartlidge (5), 19. Fin Williams*(5), 20. Alex Muckherjee* (5).

( ) No. of Lymm First XV League appearances

*Product of Lymm M&J’s/Colts Academy

Referee: Mark Hyde

Match Report: Simon Plumb

Man of the Match: Jack Stride