2 weeks Ago
Thanks to their 44-31 success at Preston Grasshoppers at the weekend, Lymm have already secured their highest league finish in the club’s history. With Easter weekend off and no matter the result against Ionians, Lymm will end the season in third place in National League 2 North finishing behind champions Leeds Tykes and second-placed Sheffield. This Lymm squad have shown remarkable resilience in coming through a challenging period of injuries and results on the right side.
The long winning streak in the first half of the season, which saw them lead the table for a period, was a true reflection of the skill and determination of the players and coaching. And looking back, Lymm have beaten every team in the division at least once this season. But since the turn of the year, injuries and unavailability has meant Lymm calling on some of their 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 is a fine example. He showed great skill and confidence on his full debut against a much more experienced Preston Grasshoppers winger at the weekend, seeing off several strong challenges from opponents no doubt looking to make their mark but safe to say it did not work.
Lymm showed their resilience against a strong Preston side, recovering from a fightback by the hosts to take out the win. At half-time Lymm led 29-14 but at the 60-minute mark they trailed 31-29 and it did not bode well when full-back Andy Rowley was shown a yellow card for an alleged trip on the Preston winger. But games sometimes turn on the most innocuous incidents.
When Preston’s lineout misfired, and the ball was knocked on as Beesley made a tackle, the momentum of the game turned. Lymm made progress into Preston’s half, and good handling in the backs led to a searing run by Day and his perfect pass inside allowed Isaac Millichip to drive through two tacklers and score. The conversion from Simpson moved Lymm five points ahead with 70 minutes played.
Preston had to push for the win but it was their turn to have a series of penalties given against them as they attempted to disrupt the increasingly dominant Lymm pack. A successful Simpson penalty on 75 minutes gave Lymm a crucial eight points advantage. Preston were now running the ball at every opportunity but in forcing the play the ever-alert Morris struck for an interception try to hammer the nail into the coffin.
“I’m really proud of the performance we put in,” said 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 second 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.”.
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