Lymm Eagles 59 – 14 Northwich 2nds
Eagles Team Match Report | Saturday March 12 2022
LYMM ENJOY RETURN TO HOME COMFORTS
After what has seemed a very long time, Lymm Eagles 3XV finally enjoyed their first home fixture of 2022 by welcoming Northwich 2XV to Crouchley Lane. The Eagles have found this lengthy period of travelling to distant away fixtures very challenging, and it has taken a lot of enthusiasm and persuasive skills from Captain Ollie Brown to keep the 3s going during this time. With no 2nd team game today, a greater number of players were potentially available for selection. However, Ollie showed great commitment to the spirit of the team by keeping faith with the same regular players that had served the vets so well over the season and only filling places when there was no alternative.
As a club, Northwich have had a difficult season, with their 1st team in a very tough league and this has had a knock on effect on their lower teams. In the reverse fixture, Lymm had run out comfortable winners. However, a recent upturn in form has provided Northwich 2s with confidence that a positive result could be achieved against their local rivals. Indeed, such was their determination to put in a strong performance, that Northwich turned up with a full complement of players and replacements and even a handful of spectators, a feature almost never seen at a 3rd team game. In fact, Northwich were out on the pitch and warming up even before second row regular Ollie Chesworth had lit his 1st pre-match cigarette. The vets trudged down to the pitch not quite knowing what sort of opposition they would be facing.
The first half was a tight affair. For the first 10 minutes the game was evenly poised with both teams struggling with fitness and handling errors. Lymm finally got the first score with a good break from full back Anderson, who fed McEvoy to go over for a try (5-0). Lymm then relaxed a bit too much and missed tackles, which saw the Northwich winger go over for a quick reply (5-7). This was swiftly followed by another for the same Northwich winger, as Lymm turned their backs on a quickly taken tap penalty 10 metres out (5-14). The riot act was read, and Lymm started to get some good possession, with fly half Roberts marshalling the team forward. Good forward drives led to space out wide for veteran Martin “Henders” Henderson, to sprint down the wing and leap like a majestic salmon (tinned) and squeeze over in the corner for his seasonal try which confirms that his retirement has been delayed for another season (10-14). Lymm finished the half strongly, first from a strong run from No. 8 Hill to crash over (17-14) and a classic show and go by scrum half Kinsey to score another try and close the half (24-14). Full back James Anderson fulfilled the kicking duties.
The half time message was simple. “Keep going in the set pieces, offer yourselves as runners and don’t believe the game is won until the final whistle……AND KEEP YOUR TRAP SHUT!!”
The second half started much as the first half had. Lymm were perhaps guilty of trying to force passes that weren’t on and trying to over complicate things. Father and son duo Max and Jez Ure were a formidable combination with their no nonsense approach and driving strength which paid good dividends. On the hour mark, from a driving maul, back row Joe Rogers broke clear to score in a good individual effort. (31-14). This seemed to break the discipline of Northwich, with one or two of their players clearly frustrated that the ref was not listening to their running commentary of the 101 ways that Lymm were infringing at the breakdown. This frustration seemed to be directed at scrum half Kinsey, who’s helpful advice and constructive comments to the Northwich forwards were apparently not welcome. Luckily for Chris, the headbutt directed at him missed!! The rest of the game was all Lymm, with converted tries from McEvoy, Keefe and Coghill extending the lead further (52-14). The pick of the tries came with the last play of the game as Max Ure, picking the ball up on the Northwich 22 bulldozed his way over, whilst carrying half the Northwich side on his back. (59-14).
This was a good win for Lymm, but it certainly didn’t feel like a one-sided game. Northwich were very committed and probably deserved more than they got. For Lymm, mention must go the back row group of Joe Rogers, Jim France, Matt Hill and Tom Coon, who recovered so much ball for Lymm. Hooker Pitcher was a one-man wrecking crew, and his tackling was immense all day. Andy Roberts probably had his best game since returning for the Eagles. Finally, a special thanks and mention goes to centre Simon Beards who travels long distances to come and play for Lymm and has been one of our best players this season. Si had to leave the field early today with a possible ruptured bicep and if this is the case, we wish him a very speedy recovery.
There is no 3XV game next week but Lymm 2XV travel to Sedgley Park 2XV 3pm KO which should provide an entertaining spectacle for those wanting to support club rugby at Lymm beyond the First team.
Squad: 1) Ollie Brown (C) 2) James Pitcher 3) David Coon 4) Ollie Chesworth 5) Aldin Zillic 6) Jim France 7) Joe Rogers 8) Matt Hill 9) Chris Kinsey 10) Andy Roberts 11) Tom Coghill 12) Rick McEvoy 13) Simon Beards 14) Martin Henderson 15) James Anderson REP 16) Tom Coon 17) Max Ure 18) Jez Ure 19) Toby Philips 20) Josh Keefe