WILMSLOW 26 – 31 LYMM

Strength In Depth

On Saturday Lymm travelled for a pre-season warm up match at Wilmslow RUFC, who play one league below in North West One. Two player’s weddings on the day and holiday unavailability meant that Lymm took a youthful, 24 man squad, with only 8 having played 1^st XV rugby at Lymm.

This proved to be a really positive and entertaining run out against a strong Wilmslow squad. Lymm were 0 -14 up at half-time with tries from Kurt Riley and Paddy Jennings, both converted by Cormac Nolan. Then in the second half, with almost 60 mins on the clock, further tries were scored by Mick Stafford and Joe Murphy with Nolan adding one conversion (0 – 26).

Wilmslow were awarded a mysterious penalty try on 62 minutes, (7 – 26), before Will Leach crossed for an unconverted try on 70mins out on the left (7 – 31). Following their penalty try, Wilmslow had upped their game and they scored 3 more tries in the last 10 mins, two converted, (26 – 31).

Lymm Head Coach and DoR Adam Fletcher commented.

“I was very happy with how we controlled the game and attacked for 60 mins but then we took our foot off the gas in the last 20 and conceded 3 tries. The boys will have learnt a valuable lesson, that you have to play 80 minutes rugby at this level or you’ll get punished.

“However, this strength in depth should stand us in great stead for the season and will definitely provide some interesting selection debates”.

On Friday, 27^th August, Lymm have one more pre-season match, away to Winnington Park in the 1^st Round of the Cheshire Cup, KO at 7.00pm. Then on Saturday 4^th September, Lymm start their season in the North Premier League at home to Kirkby Lonsdale, KO at 3pm.

Squad: Kurt Riley, James Sherlock, Joe Higgins, Rob Makin, James Pitcher, Alex Stewart, James Yates, Sam Dickenson, Gave Exeter, Joe Murphy, Rhys Lilly, Harry Martin, Cashel Chilvers, Gregor Watson, Ben Simpson, Will Leach, Tom Baker, Sam Wandsworth, Mick Stafford, Paddy Jennings, Ali Sutherland, Tom Harle, Matt Gill, Cormac Nolan.