Lymm 2nds 57 – 17 Rossendale 2nds

Lymm’s Free-Flowing Rugby Secures Convincing Win

Lymm welcomed Rossendale to Crouchley Lane on a sunny but blustery afternoon for this NOWIRUL Bathtime Premier League fixture. Rossendale RUFC were promoted from Level 5 to National League 2 North, Level 4 at the end of last season.

Lymm’s teamsheet pointed to a strong performance ahead with strength upfront and an adventurous-looking backline. The possibilities were thwarted somewhat by Rossendale only having 12 players to begin the game, with one joining soon after kick-off. Lymm responded, according to League Rules, by removing players from their line up too, to create a very busy subs bench.

Lymm, facing the wind, received the kickoff and, after a slightly sloppy start, moved up field. The ball moved smoothly through the back’s hands, finding Cormac Nolan wide on the right. Accelerating into space, he passed inside for the first converted score of the day from Reynolds. 7-0. Two more converted tries followed, with the Lymm forwards breaking tackles and good handling in the backs finding the spaces out wide. 21-0 after 15 minutes. Lymm dominated the scrum all afternoon and never looked like losing their lineouts. Bustling runs from Dobbs and Stewart, with Dobbs starting from his own 22m line, led to two further converted tries, 35-0.

Rossendale at last managed to get their hands on the ball for more than a couple of minutes, and having progressed into Lymm’s 22m, their pack broke through several tackles to score a Converted try, 35-7.

But Lymm bounced straight back, with Stewart once again gaining good ground following a line-out, and from the ensuing maul the ball was passed wide for an unconverted try. There was just time in the truncated half for Rossendale to see a gap from a quickly taken penalty and score an unconverted try.

Half Time: Lymm 40 – 12 Rossendale

Lymm were in control from the outset; the only question as the second half started was whether they would stick to the game plan. The opening 25 mins of the first half had been played with the “blueprint” of the Lymm Senior Squad in mind, it seemed; strong midfield running and line breaks from the forwards and centres, opening spaces on the edges of the pitch to be attacked at pace.

Rossendale got the first score, with the referee going into full leniency mode to allow a score after a Rossendale knock-on. 40-17. But  Lymm was soon racking up the points again. A long pass from Lymm Nolan, set Youldon-Cole on his way to score in the corner. 45-17. Then Ashton followed with a  try, following a well-worked driving maul from a line-out, 15 m from the Rossendale line. 52 – 17. One final try rounded off the day, 57- 17, as the ref again blew for an early end to the half and the game.

Lymm left the field a little disappointed that they had not stuck to the game plan in the second half. Rossendale had battled well, but without a full team and no subs, it was always going to be a tough afternoon. Their team and coaching staff handled the day well considering their reduced numbers.

The ref managed what could have been a challenging afternoon with common sense, allowing the game to flow and remain a contest. Captain Matt Hill commented, ‘We moved away from our plan too often in the second half, losing the opportunity to practice the tactics and skills we will need in other games in this league. And Nat2 West.

‘But, when we did play as well as we could, we scored some great tries. I have 2x MoMs, Ed Dobbs for a hattrick within 30 minutes and Cormac Nolan for steering the ship, given Rossendale’s playing numbers and us having to adjust to meet the demands of the game.

Squad: 1. Nick Ashton, 2. Logan Byrne, 3. Sohail Kakaie, 4. Matt Hill (Capt), 5. Edward Dobbs, 6. Rory Cartlidgem, 7. Harry Wasdell, 8. Lewis Stewart, Rory Riddell, 10, Cormac Nolan, 11. Jorge Reynolds, 12. Toby Phillips, 13. Ben Youlden-Cole, 14. Louis Hind, 15, Joseph Senior 16. Will Higgins, 17. Ryan Vanden.

Match Report: Paul Nolan

Men of The Match