Match Report
North one west
november 7th 2009
Blackburn 0 v Lymm
60
Lymm in sweet revenge
Lymm turned on the style at Blackburn with a 10 try demolition of the basement team. This does avenge the corresponding fixture last season when the Lancashire team took the points in a nasty encounter leaving 3 Lymm players in hospital.
The league leaders started with Dave Williamson at 13, replacing injured Hughes and Johnstone was back on the wing. Swetman replaced poorly captain Fletcher to give Lymm a different set of centres for the 5th match in succession. A late cry off from Harrison enabled the versatile Brown to play 2, Broadbent at tight head and Adam Cox returned at 1 after a season of injury. Pickles returned at 5 and Danny Bates was benched. Just the 8 changes for Lymm this week then.
Concerns that Blackburn would aggressively spoil and crowd the contact area, forcing errors were allayed after captain Joe Knowles waltzed over on 4 mins after a strong surge at a scrum. It seemed that each time Lymm had possession they could score. Andy Roberts at 10 had a fine game providing structure and balance, allowing the ball dozing runs of Swetman to release the pace men. On 12 mins Williamson glided through after excellent support from Higginson and Sutton. On 17 mins Williamson went over again after neat interplay with Joe Nattrass and on 27 Nattrass himself exploited a gap out wide after a great ball from Knowles.
The ability to create space was shown on the stroke of half time. Pickles took contact, scrum half Griffiths found Cox who went 20 metres before offloading to Higginson. His ball found Johnstone and the pacey winger flew in. Composed, patient play leading to a great score. Knowles managed 2 of the 5 conversion kicks.
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The second half followed a similar pattern. Pace and flair combined with great forward support and build up. Knowles went over on 50 mins after a deft chip from Williamson and Nattrass secured his double with a 35 metre dash after being released by Knowles. Blackburn were all but finished. Bickering amongst themselves, a shadow of the side that harried and bullied last season. Lacking concentration they permitted Griffiths to take a quick tap penalty and this enabled Roberts to cheekily score on 61. Higginson went over on 66 mins to cap yet another dominant display and then Griffiths notched yet another on 74.
Knowles managed 3 out of 5 in the second half.
Kinsey was happy enough. “Our offensive patterns are becoming well established and unleashing our pace is the result of the well earned platform by the forwards” Spare a thought though for Tom Coon. Injured in the Blackburn game in Feb, with a career threatening broken back Tom was ecstatic.
“The teams are performing fantastically this season and this is a testament to everyone’s hard work and commitment. It’s hard for me to watch each week without wanting to pull on the boots but I am looking forward to getting back with the squad. I am continuing the rehab and am improving from week to week. I consider myself lucky to be doing this well and I have set myself the goal of squad training some time after Xmas. It’s still a long road ahead though. I would like to thank everyone at the club, the lads, coaches, physios, management and supporters aswell as my family and friends for all their help and support”
Tom. Get back soon!!
This Saturday Lymm entertain Broughton Park at home. 2.15 kick off. Lymm.
15 Knowles C 14 Nattrass, 13 Williamson ,12 Swetman ,11 Johnstone ,10 Roberts ,9 Griffiths 1 ,Cox ,2 Brown ,3 Broadbent (Bates 65) ,4 Pickles ,5 Higginson ,6 Cullinane ,7 Ashall 8 Sutton (Millachip 65)Reps Kinsey
NORTH WEST INTERMEDIATE RUGBY UNION LEAGUE
miller homes division one
Lymm 2 XV 13 Macclesfield 3rd XV 0
Team: 1) Andy Norcott (Capt); 2) Nick Girdlestone; 3) John Grant; 4) Tom Ryan; 5) Sean Gillespie; 6) Jim Fergusson; 7) Ryan Doyle; 8) John McPartland; 9) Pat Roberts; 10) Richard Butler; 11) Andy Richardson; 12) Luke Emmitt; 13) Ben Hinton; 14) Sam Lythgoe; 15) Paul Rathbone; Subs: 16) Adam Fergusson; 17) Chris Barrett; 18) Jack Quail
On a rainy windswept afternoon, Lymm 2nd XV continued their unbeaten run making it 10 wins from 10. The pitch just managed to hold up in the heavy down-pour, as the two sets of forwards battled for control of the game. However, some good positional kicking from the Lymm backs kept their forwards on the front foot. With John McPartland, playing at No8, keen to impress and improve his match reporting skills, the Lymm pack eventually provided a platform for the impressive scrum half, Pat Roberts to cross the line. Luke Emmitt converted and kicked a penalty to see Lymm go into the break 10-0 up.
With the weather conditions worsening the match slowed down in the heavy conditions. Ryan Doyle and Sean Gillespie impressed in the pack as did Paul Rathbone at full back. The only score in the 2nd half was a penalty by Pat Roberts. A strong, successful 2nd XV is needed, if Lymm 1st XV is to gain promotion and sustain a place in National Division 3 North. It is a long season but so far, so good