Preston Grasshoppers 31 – 44 Lymm

Lightning start from Lymm secures third place

Lymm scored 20 of their 44 points in the first and last five-minute periods of this game, giving them a well-deserved victory against a strong and determined Preston Grasshoppers side.

Lymm began the game confidently, scoring two tries through Nathan Beesley, both converted by fly half Alfie Simpson. The first try stemmed from controlled rucks as Lymm drove the ball out of their 22-metre zone after successfully gathering the Preston kick-off. Sam Wadsworth broke through the Preston centres, sprinting 60 metres before skilfully off-loading the ball in the tackle to Beesley, for the score.

Following the restart, clever play from Cal Morris allowed him to accelerate through the tightest of gaps, outpacing the desperate Preston defence that was attempting to chase back. A delicate chip through for Beesley saw him again glide through the final defenders to score under the posts.

After five minutes, Lymm were ahead by fourteen points. This was an important game for Preston, looking to steer clear of relegation. And so, it was no surprise that they gathered themselves and worked their way back into the game with two tries of their own.

A further converted penalty by Simpson for Lymm meant that the crowd had been entertained by 31 points in the first 20 minutes – Preston 14 – 17 Lymm.

After the lightning start, Lymm’s penalty count now disrupted their rhythm and allowed Preston to repel Lymm’s attacks. But a break through the Preston line, again by Morris, supported as ever by back row Hadland, was illegally halted by the Preston scrambling defence, and a quickly taken penalty by Morris saw Lymm move to an eight-point lead after 27 minutes.

A midfield tussle for the next ten minutes ended with a rampaging run by Ben Thompson down the left wing. A subsequent lineout ten metres from the Preston try line, along with good handling by the Lymm backs, eventually led to a try by Sam Wadsworth, converted by Simpson.

Preston knocked on from the restart, and the referee blew for half-time.

Half Time: Preston Grasshoppers 14 – 29 Lymm

The last try of the half earned Lymm a try bonus point, securing 3rd place in National 2 North, the highest level Lymm has ever achieved.

It was a messy start to the second half, with Preston pushing hard to close the gap and Lymm conceding penalties and territory. After the break, Lymm lost the dynamic duo of Hadland and Lilley from their back row, and this undoubtedly disrupted the tempo.

Isaac Millichip and Oli Thornton, as replacement back rows, adapted to the game quickly, with Preston at that stage on the attack. Both players made significant contributions as the match progressed.

With Preston starting to dominate the scrum and using their favoured kick to the corner for a rolling maul from a lineout, the score began to narrow. A penalty and a converted try brought Preston within 5 points of Lymm at 54 minutes. Preston 24 – 29   Lymm.

Another rolling maul from a 5-metre line out after a midfield penalty for a Lymm offside decision was converted and put Preston ahead for the first time in the match at 31 – 29 at 60 minutes.

Could Lymm regather and push for the win in the final 20 minutes of the game?

Preston were in command at this stage after a series of rolling mauls caused problems for Lymm. It did not bode well for Lymm when full back Andy Rowley was shown a yellow card for an alleged trip on the Preston winger. The subsequent penalty to the corner may have led to yet another rolling maul and taken Preston further ahead.

But games sometimes turn on the most innocuous incidents. Preston’s lineout misfired, and the ball was knocked on as Beesley made a tackle. Scrum to Lymm, and the momentum of the game moved away from Preston.

Having won the scrum, Lymm made progress into Preston’s half, and good handling in the backs led to a searing run by Will Day, making his first start on the left wing. Day’s perfect pass inside saw Isaac Millichip drive through two tacklers to score, with a good conversion again from Simpson seeing Lymm back in the lead 31- 36 on 70 minutes.

Preston had to push for the win, but it was now their turn to have a series of penalties given against them as they attempted to disrupt the increasingly dominant Lymm pack. An attempted quick line out from Preston was adjudged to have been thrown forward.

Time and the game were now slipping away for Preston, and this was compounded by a successful Simpson penalty on 75 minutes. 31- 39.

Preston ran the ball at any opportunity to try to break out of their half, score, and get within seven points so as to gain a losing bonus point to go with their try bonus point. In forcing the play, they passed the ball wide in their 22 metres, allowing the ever-alert Morris to bide his time to strike for an interception try and the final score of the day.

Full Time: Preston Grasshoppers 31 – 44 Lymm

Lymm again fielded a changed team from the excellent win last week at home against Sheffield, which has been the norm for the past three months.

‘I’m really proud of the performance we put in,’ commented Director of Rugby Adam Fletcher. ‘We had spoken all week about the emotion PGH were going to bring and how we needed to match it.

‘We started the match exceptionally well; we had seen that they like to leave a few players deep from kick-offs so we thought we could exploit this by running the ball back. The boys executed the plan perfectly.

‘The 2nd half was tough, and we were under the pump for large periods. To finish the game scoring 15 unanswered points was so pleasing. We are looking forward to the week off and we can’t wait to play one more game in front of our supporters at home,’ he concluded.

The squad has shown remarkable resilience in coming through a challenging period of injuries and results. The long winning streak in the first half of the season was a true reflection of the skill and determination of this (now necessarily large) squad. Lymm has beaten every team in the division at least once this season.

Lymm has needed the younger members of the squad to play key roles, maybe sooner than the coaching team anticipated, and they have come through with flying colours. Will Day, for example, showed great skill and confidence on his full debut against a much more experienced winger, seeing off several strong challenges from Preston players no doubt looking to make their mark – safe to say it did not work.

This member of the reporting crew hopes that Lymm gets a large crowd at home on Saturday 26th April, KO 2.30pm (get it in your diary), to mark the final game of what has been an amazing season for an excellent team of players, coaches and support staff.

Team: Dan Hunter (13); James Pitcher* (92); Joe Higgins (26); Ben Thompson (51); James Yates* (135); Sean Callender (17); Josh Hadland* (57); Rhys Lilly* (74); Cal Morris (63); Alfie Simpson* (41); Will Day* (2); Sam Wadsworth* (38); Paddy Jennings* (76); Nathan Beesley* (88); Andy Rowley* (78).
Bench: Ben Lilley (18); Logan Byrne (2); Isaac Millachip* (13); Ollie Thornton* (3); Tom Manaton (22).

Referee: George Ounsley

Match Report: Paul Nolan