Lymm 39 – 24 Billingham
1st Team Match Report | Saturday April 13 2024
Lymm end home season in style against old foes Billingham
Lymm’s final home game of the 2023/24 season saw them host Billingham with the North East side desperate for points to avoid a potential relegation scenario depending on results elsewhere in National 2.
Lymm were looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat away at Preston where they had controlled much of the match and looked set for a tremendous win but for a flurry of late points from the home side. Lymm and Billingham have a rich history of games at Level 5 but this would be only the second time the two teams have faced each other at Level 4. A bright but windy Beechwood was treated to an excellent display of attacking rugby.
After a positive and end-to-end opening period, where both teams threatened with their high tempo, multi-phase attacks, Lymm would open the scoring. A patented Oli Higginson offload found Callum Morris who flung back inside in the direction of Josh Hadland. The powerful flanker collected the loose ball, won a couple of collisions and powered his way over from 20m out. Lymm 7 Billingham 0 with ten minutes gone.
A second try soon followed – Lymm’s front peel lineout was stopped just short and the ball recycled. A couple of close carries followed before Fly half Shard feathered a delightful cross kick to the left corner. Paddy Jennings raced on to it, dove, caught and dotted down for an outstanding finish. Shard, no doubt in high spirits after his assist, slammed over the touchline conversion. Lymm 14 Billingham 0.
The visitors, however, responded quickly taking advantage of several penalties to work themselves away down the right edge. Lymm scrambled well to prevent a try there, but the ball was worked quickly left and finished by flanker Myers. Conversion missed into the strong wind. Lymm 14 Billingham 5.
Following a Shard penalty from 40m (17-5) Lymm scored again almost instantly. A towering Morris box kick was completely misjudged by the Billingham backline and the spilt ball bounced into the hands of the onrushing James Kimber. Kimber’s offload found the supporting Harry Saxton Martin who sensibly offloaded to Ste Pilkington whose hard line took him all the way to the try line. Lymm 24 Billingham 5.
Billingham again responded with a very similar try to their first; penalties and multiple phases took them deep into Lymm territory and a long wide pass to the left bounced kindly into the hands of their left wing for a score. Conversion again missed 24-10. The half would end with more attack pressure from the visitors who looked very comfortable ball in hand but not as comfortable in defence. Lymm had barely left third gear but looked as though they could find a try whenever it was needed.
Half Time: Lymm 24 – 10 Billingham
Second half and another Shard penalty took the score to 27-10 before Lymm secured the bonus point try. After Higginson and Hadland had combined well to make ground in midfield, the ball was worked blind where Yates and Hand made good ground and offloaded to Saxton Martin. As he often does, the flanker finished confidently down the left edge. Lymm 32 Billingham 10.
At this point, Lymm’s tackle height began to creep above the now-acceptable level and they fell foul to multiple high tackle penalties. One would lead to another Billingham score – a trick play around the front of the lineout from 5m out which was well converted. Lymm 32 Billingham 17.
As had been the pattern for much of the game, Lymm turned up the tempo momentarily and responded with another try. A two phase move, with Jennings flying on to an inside ball off his wing, was well defended by Billingham but the resulting ruck was not, allowing Morris to dummy, break and swan dive his way over untouched to the left of the posts. Easily converted by Shard, Lymm 39 Billingham 17 with the game pretty much over as a contest.
To their credit, Billingham would continue to battle and earned themselves a deserved try bonus point when, after further penalties, multiple phases of pressure in the Lymm 22 was finally bundled over by stalwart Dixon. Lymm 39 Billingham 24.
At this point, there were multiple substitutions from both teams with tremendous ovations for retirees Gav Woods, Jordan Widdrington and James Kimber on the occasion of their final home game. With over 300+ 1st team appearances between them and PHDs in the dark arts of scrummaging, neither Woods nor Widdrington will be easily replaced and have both been outstanding servants to the club. Likewise, Kimber’s calm, class and physicality in the carry, will be sorely missed next season.
Neither team would go on to trouble the scorers any further and Lymm would finish comfortable 39-24 winners to end their home season in a positive fashion and underline just how far they have progressed over the course of this season. Huge credit must go to Adam Fletcher and his coaching team of Andrew Davies, Tom Bray and Woods as well as captain James Yates for an exceptional season establishing the club at Level 4.
Full Time: Lymm 39 – 24 Billingham
Lymm DoR Adam Fletcher commented after the game. “Really happy with how the lads bounced back from last week. They were desperate to put a show on for all the supporters.
“We were clinical and professional. Billingham threw a lot at us but we defended pretty well. We scored some nice tries and created a lot of chances.
“Massive congrats to Gav, Kimbo and Wid
Squad: 1. Ralph McEachran (12); 2. James Pitcher* (66); 3. Matty Hand* (106); 4. Rhys Lilly* (53); 5. James Yates (c)* (121); 6. Josh Hadland* (37); 7. Harry Saxton-Martin (54); 8. Oli Higginson* (262); 9. Cal Morris (37); 10. Tom Shard* (134); 11. Paddy Jennings* (51); 12. James Kimber* (109); 13. Ste Pilkington* (64); 14. Andy Williams* (22); 15. Alfie Simpson* (29). Subs: 16. Rob Makin* (63); 17. Gav Woods (131); 18. Jordan Widdrington* (242); 19. Ben Thompson (29); 20. Jack Stride (10).
( ) = number of Lymm First XV League appearances
* Former Lymm Academy/M&J player
Referee: George Ounsley
Match Report: Adam Bray
