Lymm 14
Sale FC 26

Lymm entertained Sale FC 2nds in near perfect conditions at Beechwood. The Sale side included a number of players who assisted Sale to win the National 2 League last year and would provide a stern test for Lymm’s young side. Lymm had a few changes from last week and were looking to bounce back from the defeat at Vale of Lune.

Things looked ominous for Lymm as Sale kicked off and retained possession from Lymm’s indecision. They went through the phases making ground through their powerful back row which eventually led to their talented centre to ghost through from 30 metres for a converted try, (0-7). Sale continued to batter away at Lymm but the defence started to get their act together bravely putting their bodies on the line to keep the Sale forwards at bay. A 5 metre catch and drive from Sale was repelled which gave Lymm heart as they came more into the game.

A fine break by Tom Baker took Lymm up the pitch only for impatience to lose the opportunity. The tackling from both sides was very physical with Lymm matching their opponents on this front. It was from a line out on the Sale twenty two that Dave Coon picked up a lose throw and charged to the Sale line. He managed to attract defenders and quick ball allowed Tom Baker to crash through for a try, converted by Josh Davies, (7-7).

This gave Lymm confidence and they swarmed on any mistakes that Sale made. The class players in the Sale side were proving a handful and just before half time they managed to regain the lead with an unconverted try from a pick and drive close to the Lymm line. Ht 7-12 At half time it was emphasised that if Lymm could retain possession and keep up the defensive aggression then they were very much in the game. However, as in the first half Lymm kicked off and weak tackling allowed Sale to score under the posts. Then 5 minutes later, lack of concentration allowed Sale to dominate a scrum which eventually led to another close range try. Both were converted, (7-26).

At this stage the floodgates could easily have opened but Lymm led by the outstanding Tom Baker showed true spirit and upped the pace. This resulted in a carbon copy try for Tom Baker who barrelled over bouncing two would be defenders out of the way for a converted try, (14-26).

Lymm kept the pressure on but with Tom Baker off injured, they lacked the guile to breakdown the Sale defence. They pounded away in the last 15 minutes through driving line outs and forays down the middle but couldn’t prise the Sale defence open.

In the end Sale had a bit too much class but the Lymm side acquitted themselves manfully against a far bigger and more experienced side. The way the game started looked as Lymm could have been in trouble but with the commitment and physicality of Jake Ashall, the Baldwin brothers and James Lewis kept themselves in the game. Everyone played their part but special mention must be given the front row of Jack Porteous, James Pitcher and young/old Dave Coon who stood up manfully to experienced opponents in the scrum and produced a great effort in the loose.

Lymm Squad:

1) D Coon, 2) J Pitcher, 3) J Porteous. 4) W Baldwin, 5) H Baldwin, 6) J Ashall, 7) J Dowdeswell, 8) B Rees, 9) H Simpson, 10, Tom Baker, 11) J Reynolds, 12) J Lewis, 13) J Davies, 14) R Forrest, 15) J Harmer, 16) O Chesworth, 17) K Smith.