Luctonians 13 – 24 Lymm 1st XV

Lymm deservedly prevail in near perfect conditions

Lymm’s adventure in the West Division on National League 2 got underway on Saturday with a 2½   hour trip to delightful rural West Herefordshire to face Luctonians for the first time in the club’s history. Luctonians are a club built in the same vein as Lymm – a community amateur multisport club run and organised by volunteers with a thriving mini & junior section which provides the bulk of their senior rugby players.

Luctonians are a club vastly experienced at National 2, having played at this level virtually unbroken since 2010.  As last season they finished 5^th in this league, they were sure to provide a stiff test for Lymm as they ventured into largely uncharted territory.

On the back of a rigorous pre-season and a good influx of new young players to swell the ranks, there was stiff competition for squad places.  With a small number of regulars absent, the coaching team elected to give debuts to young newcomers Sam Beahan and Dalitso Ngoma, both of whom had joined Lymm over the summer from Waterloo and Newport (Salop) respectively.

With the weather glorious and the pitch in fine condition, the large group of travelling supporters settled down to make their voices heard amongst an otherwise bumper, partisan crowd.

Lymm kicked off with the brisk wind at their backs.  The inevitable early exchanges of kicks for field position went Lymm’s way and they were soon settled in Luctonians territory. A penalty award to Lymm set up an attacking lineout deep into the Luctonians 22, from which once the initial driving maul became static, Callum Morris moved the ball sharply infield where Ste Pilkington spotted a weak shoulder and barged over from 5m, for the opening score of the match and Lymm’s season.  Alfie Simpson added the points with a relatively simple conversion to make the score 0-7 after 5 minutes.

Next it was Luctonians turn to show how dangerous they could be with ball in hand.  A line break by their centre from deep in their own territory looked certain to level the scores but great last ditch scramble defence by Lymm – a feature of the afternoon – managed to halt the attack and then turn the ball over allowing Morris to take play back to the Luctonians 22 with a towering kick – not the last time Morris’ left boot shifted momentum in the match.

Both sides were now showing an intent to move the ball through the hands when they had the chance and such a promising move by Lymm ended when the final pass from Sam Wadsworth to Jack Stride didn’t quite go to hand when a try looked on the cards.

A little later, Lymm won a line out on halfway and after a couple of forward drives spun the ball to the right wing and into the hands of Nathan Beasley.  The speedster made initial ground then chipped over the Luctonians defense (maybe in an attempt to reprise his try in the first match of last season…).  This time though the covering defender got to the ball first, but Beasley hunted him down a couple of metres from the try line.  The ball was dislodged in the tackle which the alert Strde gathered to dot down for a try, 2m in from the right-hand touchline.  Simpson’s excellent conversion doubled Lymm’s lead to 0-14 after 21 minutes.

On 30 minutes the threatening Luctonians backs finally got the better of the Lymm defence, when flyhalf Bryn Goodall’s excellent one-handed offload put speedy centre James Wheeler through to score from 40m out 15m to the left of the uprights.  Goodall missed the conversion to bring the scores to 5-14.

Simpson then added a simple penalty to extend Lymm’s lead to 5-17 on 36 minutes and to conclude the scoring for the half.

Half Time:  Luctonians 5 – 17 Lymm

Luctonians had certainly threatened for large parts of the first half, but Lymm’s defensive efforts had been outstanding and thwarted and frustrated most that had been thrown at them.  A 12-point lead at the break was certainly useful, but the question on the touchline was whether this would be sufficient given the ever-strengthening wind that Lymm would be facing.

The second half didn’t start well for Lymm, conceding two penalties in quick succession to allow Luctonians to set up camp deep in their 22.   Lymm then put in a great defensive set, repelling wave after wave of Luctonian drives until, after about 20 phases, the ball was shifted wide to the right wing where Wheeler found sufficient space to cross for his second.  Another missed conversion and the scoreboard showed 10-17 after 44 minutes.

On 55 minutes Goodall did register his first successful kick, converting a relatively straightforward penalty opportunity.  13-17 and all to play for.

Then on 65 minutes came the crucial play.  Oli Higginson made one of his trademark breaks from well inside Lymm territory, before finding Pilkington in support.  Pilkington, cut inside but now less than 10m from the tryline was unable to link with one of the 3 or 4 Lymm support players.  The move was then snuffed out by a Luctonian defender illegally, giving Lymm a penalty.  Kick to the corner; a juggling take by Higginson from the lineout; a well-set driving maul crabbing diagonally towards the posts and tryline; a quick release to Morris; and then a short pass to Wadsworth to breach a thin defensive line and run round to score under the posts. Simpson’s simple conversion brought the score to 13-24 with 14 minutes left.

Luctonians were now, realistically, playing for a losing bonus point and they gave it their best shot – but the Lymm defensive effort was magnificent.  Despite losing Higginson to a yellow card with 2 minutes left, they held firm, frustrating their opponents until the inevitable turnover led to Simpson booting the ball into the next field and this entertaining encounter coming to an end.

On leaving the pitch the Lymm squad was deservedly greeted with raucous applause from the travelling Lymm support.  A great day out in Herefordshire for sure, and the win certainly made the trip home feel a whole lot shorter!

Full Time:  Luctonians 13 – 24 Lymm

Director of Rugby Adam Fletcher, commented:

“What a cracking start to the season! We came out flying, played the conditions really well and fully earned that halftime lead.  Second-half wasn’t quite ours – Lucs got the momentum, and we found it tough to swing it back – but I loved how we dug in, fought for everything and defended our line.  Loads of positives to take forward along with a few big work-ons for training this week.”

“Can’t wait for the local derby next weekend – it’s going to be a good one!”

Massive shout out to the travelling support brilliant to see so many from Lymm making the trip, you made a real difference”

Team: Ben Lilley (20); Rob Makin* (89); Joe Higgins (28); Sam Beahan (1); James Yates* (137); Ben Thompson (53); Josh Hadland* (59); Rhys Lilly* (76); Callum Morris (65); Alfie Simpson* (43); Paddy Jennings* (78); Ste Pilkington* (82); Sam Wadsworth* (40); Jack Stride (27); Nathan Beasley* (90).
Bench: Dan Hunter (15); Dalitso Ngamo (1); Isaac Millachip* (15); Oli Higginson* (281); Tom Manaton (24).

( ) = number of Lymm First XV League appearances
* Former Lymm Academy/M&J player

Referee: Peter Connor
Match Report: Andy Leech

Lymm’s next take on Chester at Beechwood, Crouchley Lane on Saturday 13^th September, KO 2:30.

Other results:
Lymm 2nd XV 36 – Sale Vikings 31
Glossop 3 – Lymm Eagles 63

Man of the Match – Rob Makin