Match Report
North one west
October 31st 2009
Lymm 66 v aspatria 3
Lymm’s stylish farewell to Gluti.
Lymm turned on the style scoring 10 tries in a farewell romp for Alex Gluth who returns to Sydney mid week. With the squad rotated again coach Kinsey brought Joe Nattrass in to replace Johnstone on the wing, Griffiths and Roberts were back at 9 and 10, Jake Ashall and Ian Cullinane returned in the back row and Swetman and Pickles were unavailable. Warhorse Peter Millachip found himself on the bench after a torrid spell with injury.
Though the visitors held a lowly league position Lymm were aware that these are the games that define a season and it was encouraging that they played with real sparkle. Joe Knowles amassed 26 points and will be pleased to be back at a 80% success rate with his kicking. A good start is always a requirement against struggling teams therefore allowing you to play at your tempo. Lymm were 12-0 up after 6 mins. A lovely chip from midfield from Tom Hughes, released Dave Williamson and his pass inside found Jake Ashall who went over. Dave Williamson was again instrumental in allowing Knowles to notch the first of his brace of tries 90 seconds later. Hughes, with an ankle sprain was replaced by Baker on 10 mins and the classy Williamson switched to 13.
Griffiths went over on 18 mins following a lovely weighted chip from Knowles. On 22 we had the rare sight of veteran Sutton, at pace, looping behind Higginson to score and it was 24-0. Aspatria troubled the scorers on one occasion when Stoddart kicked a penalty on 36 mins. With seconds remaining in the half Joe Nattrass set up Griffiths whose pass fed Williamson who took a lovely line to score.
31-3
Having lost the downhill advantage it was interesting to see how Lymm would change their game plan. Immediately they secured the ball and looked more patient in their build up. A Griffith pick and go on 47 mins took the score to 38-3. On 56 mins Lymm scored the try of the match.
Switching Baker to 9 and Griffiths on the wing, to protect a spasming hamstring, they immediately hit Aspatria with a pacey, flowing 4 phase move. Great hands from Roberts and the much improved Fletcher allowed Knowles in for his second. Fletcher is getting better by the week after a season of injury has taken its toll on his confidence.
Aspatria started to slow the ball and were penalised on 56 mins. Roberts, ever alert, took a quick tap and scampered over for his first try of the season. There was still time for further tries from Williamson, after a lovely kick from Baker and Griffths notched his hat trick on 75 mins, once again set up by Williamson.
Hat trick hero Griffiths was pleased overall with the team. “a win like that had been expected for a few weeks. It finally came together with no one having an average game”
Kinsey echoed this “we finally played some scintillating Rugby at great pace and although against weaker opposition it showed what we are capable of”
Next Saturday Lymm travel to basement club Blackburn looking to avenge defeat from last season. Lymm.
15 Knowles 14 Nattrass, 13 Hughes (Baker 10) ,12 Fletcher C ,11 Williamson ,10 Roberts ,9 Griffiths 1 ,Brown ,2 Harrison ,3 Gluth ,4 Williams ,5 Higginson ,6 Cullinane ,7 Ashall 8 Sutton (Millachip 65)Reps Broadbent
NORTH WEST INTERMEDIATE RUGBY UNION LEAGUE
miller homes division one