Burnage 2nds 28 – 34 Lymm 2nds

In dry but cold conditions Lymm travelled to Burnage with a much changed side with four Colts included in the side. You know we are down on numbers when you see Peter Millachip in kit lurching with intent on the touchline!!

Lymm kicked off and immediately put Burnage under pressure. Keen defence and good driving play meant the game was mainly played in Burnage’s half. Captain Toby Phillips made a couple of good breaks but they could not be finished as the ball didn’t go to hand as he off loaded. However the pressure was maintained and after a number of forward drives Sean Boyce drove over the line for the first try converted by James Anderson. Lymm continued to press but strong defence from Burnage kept them out, and it was from a turnover deep in their half that they broke away showing good offloading skills to release their pacey winger who scored from 50 metres.7-7. After another break by Toby Philips Lymm got Lymm deep into the Burnage 22 and after good lineout work the hard working Gav Downs got the reward of an unconverted try, 7-12.

That was the final score of the half which Lymm had dominated territorially but keen defence had kept them at bay.

Ht 7-12

Lymm started the second half as they ended the first, putting Burnage under pressure which resulted in mistakes. This again gave them field position and from a line out close to the Burnage line Joe Dowdeswell was on the end of a driving maul to complete a touch down which James Anderson converted, 7-19. He increased lead 5 minutes later from a penalty 35 metres out, 7-22. However Burnage were not going away and to their credit they came back strongly and forced their way over for a converted try, 14-22. The next five minutes decided the game as firstly a great tackle by Will Higgins dislodged the ball in midfield and Harrison Crippner took advantage to break two tackles and sprint to line from 40 metres for a converted try 14-29. 5 minutes later more pressure from Lymm after a good kick chase ended with the ball in Toby Phillips hands 30 metres out and there was no catching him as he scored in the corner 14-34. Again Burnage would not lie down and they scored two converted tries to make for a tense finish, 28-34. However Lymm took charge in the last few minutes to seal a deserved victory in a well referred game.

HT 28 – 34

It was a good team performance with everyone putting in a shift. In the forwards Gav Downs produced his usual hard working committed display and Joe Dowdeswell gets better with every game. All the Colts performed well with Oli Larkin growing into the game and Harrison Crippner, even though he played out of position showed what a good rugby player he is, showing strength and pace.

Team: G Anderson, M Ince, H Crippner, T Phillips, A Freeman, O Larkin, J Anderson, Titus Jones, J Dowdeswell, Sadge, G Downs, S Boyce, N Ashton, W Higgins, D Coon