Sedgley Park 2nds 21 – 12 Lymm 2nds
2nd Team Match Report | Saturday March 19 2022
With no 1st or 3rd team games this weekend, the Lymm 2nd team were flying the flag, travelling away with a squad of 19 players to play against a strong Sedgley Park side, who were hoping to avenger their defeat at Lymm earlier in the season. What transpired was another close encounter with no quarter given by both sides.
The conditions were sunny, with a breeze across the pitch as Lymm kicked off. Lymm started tackling ferociously, knocking Park’s big forwards back but a missed tackle in midfield allowed the Park stand off to make a break and score under the posts for a converted try, 7 – 0. This was the pattern for the first twenty minutes with good defence from both sides but two further one up tackles missed by Lymm allowed Sedgley to score two more converted tries to lead 21-0 after twenty minutes.
Overall Lymm were defending well but Sedgley had the edge in the loose as their big forwards were getting over the gain line. Lymm started to settle into the game stealing some of the Park line out ball. Good carries by Joe Watson and Rory Riddell got Lymm going forward but possession was lost at the breakdown to stop the momentum. However on 30 minutes Lymm eventually scored as Rory Riddell sliced through the defence and looked as if he was going to score but was tackled 5 metres from the line, but Dalton Frith was on hand to switch play from the ruck which allowed Ed Dobbs to crash over in the corner for a try. James Anderson narrowly missed the conversion, 21 -5. This seemed to encourage Lymm and after a penalty was kicked to the corner the Lymm pack drove Sedgley over the line for Rob Makin to wrestle his way over and this time James Anderson was successful with the conversion.
Ht 21-12
The second half was dominated by strong defence and tactical kicking from both sides. Neither managed any telling breaks but Lymm had the better of the territorial battle, going close twice with drives to line from line outs only to be penalised when a try was beckoning. They had one more chance to score when Mike Ince crashed through two tackles from 15 metres but was held a metre from the line.
Lymm had managed to control Sedgley’s runners but it turned into an arm wrestle against a physical side. The overall performance was excellent with some tremendous tackling from the whole team, only the early lapses, which were punished clouded the day. The forwards competed well against bigger opposition, edging the line outs and earning parity in the loose. Joe Watson and James Pitcher always made ground in possession and Gav Downs competed well at the line out. In the backs Rory Riddell showed good footwork and defended well. Interestingly, only 5 of the squad played in the home win against Park earlier in the season.
Next week there are no home games at Lymm. The 1st team travel to Stockton on Tees, Co Durham, to play Billingham. There is no 2nd team fixture but many of the 2nd team players are travelling to Billingham to watch the first team and then enjoy a quiet and sophisticated night out and stopover in Newcastle!! Lymm Eagles also have no fixture.
On Sunday (27th) the Senior Colts are at home to Wirral in the semi final of the Cheshire Cup after a conceed by Sandbach earlier in the year. Kick Off 2:0pm.
The Junior Colts are at home to Sandbach in the Cheshire Bowl semi final having lost 29-12 to Macclesfield in the cup quarter final this weekend. Kick Off 12:30pm
Squad: 15. J Anderson, J Reynolds, R Riddell, P Jennings, E Dobbs, G Anderson, D Frith, M Grellier, A Stewart, R Makin, G Downs, J Watson, J Widdrington, J Pitcher. D Horton. Rep: M Ince, Soheil Kakai, T Harle, J Dowdeswell.
Match Report: Malcolm Pritchard