Lymm 13
Blaydon 26

Lymm made the short hop to play at Wilmslow Wolves on Saturday for the first time in 10 seasons, following Wilmslow’s promotion last season. Whilst there were undoubtedly some overdue reunions between past Wilmslow and Lymm players on the sidelines, on the pitch it was clearly a case of two teams facing each other with little knowledge of each other’s personnel and playing styles.

After a stuttering start to the season, Lymm were looking to get back on the horse against a Blaydon side who had made a good start to their new life in the North Premier League. The rain from earlier in the week had relented and it was perfect conditions for Lymm to put their all court game into play. Scrum half Andy Davies, the architect of Lymm’s style, was however taken ill on the morning of the game and admitted to hospital. Already without Gav Woods, James Kimber, Tom Shard and Jake Maher the Lymm team had a makeshift look.

Aaron Rasheed, Jordan Widdrington and Jake Ashall were called in from Lymm 2’s. Luke Richards and Giles Dugdale returning from holiday were brought into the squad. With the late withdrawal of Andy Davies, Luke Richards was finally ‘volunteered’ to play scrum-half, never having donned the number 9 shirt before, apart from a few games as a colt in previous seasons.

The game started with both sides playing expansively and both defences standing firm. Blaydon were creating some lovely patterns and at pace, reminiscent of Lymm in their pomp. After 10 minutes one such passage of play brought its rewards with the creation of an overlap and a try out wide by centre Dan Marshall. 5-0 to Blaydon. The away team continued their intent and their pace and handling was beginning to look ominous.

Lymm however began to settle into the game and grow in confidence with their own running game starting to click into action, led by Oli Higginson and Luke Richards, who had a great day as stand in scrum-half. With skipper Adam Bray leading the charge, Lymm clawed back two penalties slotted over by Cormac Nolan to make the score 6-5. On the half-hour mark Lymm were further rewarded for their enterprise with Richards and Higginson again combining to finally put Ali Sutherland over under the posts. With the extras added by Nolan it was 13-5 to Lymm and confidence began to grow around Beechwood.

Blaydon came again and on 35 minutes Giles Dugdale was yellow carded for a no arms tackle. Spurred on by this, Blaydon pushed hard for the remainder of the half and with the final play managed to squeeze over to make the half-time score 13-12 with another Marshall try, this time converted by Jamie Guy.

Lymm started the second half on top and indeed for the majority of the half enjoyed the territorial advantage but this was a different test for Lymm, somebody playing them at their own game, defending deep and counter attacking with pace and skill. After 15 minutes of the half Blaydon broke out and a wonderful sweeping move ended with another try, this time by hooker Cam Bell, again converted by Guy to make the score 19-13.

Lymm again camped themselves in the Blaydon 22, with Richards continuing to snipe, but could make little headway; little errors, lost line-outs and knock-ons at crucial times hampered the home sides progress. On the other hand whenever Blaydon did get the ball they were slick and precise. With 5 minutes to go another line-out was lost by Lymm, Blaydon cleared and a knock-on by Lymm gave the away side an attacking scrum. Phase one ball and the Blaydon winger James Cooney was put over in the corner for a bonus point try, Guy adding the extras.

The final score of 13 – 26 was perhaps harsh on Lymm, who on another day could have won, but no doubt Blaydon deserved the victory, playing Lymm at their own game and doing it far more clinically.

Lymm Captain, Adam Bray commented after the game, “Our poor lineout display as witnessed at Wirral, continued, especially loosing 4 or 5 Lymm attacking lineouts on the Blaydon 5 metre line.

“The error count of knock-ons, forward passes etc., was also again too high, which ultimately cost Lymm the game. Whilst there were some good signs today, we know we need to start to pick-up points or a harsh long winter awaits us”.

Next week it’s Wilmslow away, without going all football clichéd, a must win game?!

Teamsheet