Preston Grasshoppers 52
Lymm 31

Lymm travelled to Preston with a side showing many changes to last week for a variety of reasons. In addition due to late cry offs, they went with a bare 15 players. Conditions were perfect on the AGP as most of the north west pitches would have been the proverbial mud bath!

Lymm kicked off and started strongly recycled the ball well with the forward drive being led by the impressive Dan Horton and newcomer Manny Effiom. Play was taken to near the Preston line and after a series of drives close to the line Tom Baker wriggled over for an unconverted try. Preston though were a different proposition than earlier in the season as they were strengthened by squad players from the first team. They replied almost immediately with a converted try after a break in the midfield. Lymm were not deterred and were making good ground through the forwards and Rory Riddell in the backs. Alex Hickman nearly scored the try of the season beating 6 players from 60 metres but had the ball dislodged in the act of scoring. However it wasn’t long before a catch and drive resulted in Dan Horton touching down for an unconverted try.

Lymm continued to make ground but Preston had were dangerous in the break as they had some pacy backs. It was Lymm who scored next when Rory Riddell, who was dangerous all day, burst through from 25 metres to round the full back and score a try which Tom  Baker converted. Preston came back aided by a few Lymm mistakes and scored a converted try. Then just before a half time a line out on the Preston line was won by the home side but opportunism by James Yates resulted in a converted try for Lymm.

Ht 14-24

At half time it was emphasised that it was important to keep the pace of the game up and to improve the defence.

The second half started with Lymm pressing hard for a try but good defence from Preston kept them out and the game suddenly changed as Preston upped the pace using their backs to good effect and ran in 4 tries in 10 minutes as Lymm dropped off tackles and made errors which were penalised.

Lymm did respond with an excellent individual try by Alex Hickman, which was converted. Preston still came back scored two more tries to close out the game.

This was the game of two halves as Lymm tired as Preston got their act together and they blew Lymm off the park in the second half. In the first half Lymm played some excellent rugby with Dan Horton leading the forwards well aided by Manny Effiom and Matt Connolly. In the backs Tom Baker had an excellent first half and Rory Riddell always made ground with his footwork and pace.

Next week, Saturday 21^st December, Lymm entertain Sedgley Park at Lymm on the AGP, which will be a real Xmas fixture. KO time to be advised.

Team: