Match Report
North one west
April 3rd 2010
Lymm 23 v northwich 33
Lymm wished to avenge a controversial loss at Northwich earlier in the season. A win would also confirm them as league champions, in what has turned out to be a highly competitive league. The two teams produced a pulsating, passionate game but Northwich eventually took the honours, to keep their own promotion chances very much alive.
In front of a bumper bank holiday crowd, the Northwich game plan was simple and effective. Centred around their well drilled and physical pack, led by captain Rick Smith, they tackled like demons and prevented the dangerous Lymm back line from performing their usual magic. The score line was to and fro but in the end it was a Mike Gallimore try in the last minutes of the game, which put Lymm’s league champion’s celebrations on ice for another week. In a bizarre sequence of events, he broke down the left touchline. There was a suggestion that he had put a foot in touch, based on a stray raised hand and calls from the touchline. This caused him and Lymm players to pause momentarily. The Lymm touch judge kept his flag down and the referee waived play on. Gallimore put his foot on the gas, stepped inside of the fullback and scored between the sticks to seal victory. Richard Dale converted to create a ten point margin and there was no coming back for the dejected Lymm outfit.
From the start it looked ominous for the visitors, who were ten nil down in as many minutes following an Andy Roberts charge down and a conversion and penalty from Joe Knowles. From the restart Northwich were back in the game when Dodo Muntean intercepted a Lymm attack to score and convert his try. After twenty minutes Chris James seized the initiative in diving over from a maul on the Lymm try line and Muntean converted to put Northwich 14-10 ahead. Lymm, who always looked dangerous, edged in front when following another charge down second row forward Lee Pickles forced his way over the visitors try line. Knowles missed the conversion but punished a Chris Dale sin bin with a penalty ten minutes before half time. Half Time: Lymm 18 Northwich 14.
The second half was just as exciting as the first; No 8 Graham Robinson regained the lead from a pushover which Muntean converted but then Joe Knowles struck in the clubhouse corner to put the home side 23-19 in front. Lymm looked to be gaining in confidence as the game moved into the final quarter. Sweatman came on for Fletcher and started to put Lymm on the front foot with some testing kicks. However, handling mistakes and indiscipline didn’t help their cause. Eventually a flowing three-quarter move from Northwich put Joel Barber over in the bottom left hand corner for Richard Dale to convert magnificently from the touch line 23-26. It was all over when Gallimore scored to leave Lymm’s champagne unopened with two games to play.
Team: 15) Joe Knowles; 14) Jack Johnstone; 13) Tom Hughes; 12) Adam Fletcher; 11) Dave Williamson; 10) Andy Roberts; 9) Patrick Roberts; 8) Ollie Higginson; 7) Ian Cullinane; 6) Mark Sutton; 5) Darius Miksys; 4 Lee Pickles; 3) Tim Oakes; 2) Scott Harrison; 1) Danny Bates. Reps. Keith Broadbent; Mike Sweatman; Jake Ashall
NORTH WEST INTERMEDIATE RUGBY UNION LEAGUE
miller homes division one
lymm 2s 39 v leigh 2s 0
lively lymm in easy easter win
Lymm’s second string went back to the top of Miller Homes League 1 with a straightforward enough victory over struggling Leigh. With 3 games to go Andy Norcott’s men remain on course for an impressive promotion to the top tier of 2nd team rugby.
Even with missing players in vital positions the home team were able to dip into the rich seam of their colts set up. Mike Floyd, accompanied Sean Wright, Jordan Widdrington, Matty Connolly and Piers Crozier in the squad and gave a youthful look to the team. Veteran Dave Roberts switched to 9 and Norcott was able to call on the talents of Darbyshire, Millachip and player of the season possible Doyle in the back row.
It took Floyd just 10 mins to register his first try in senior, league rugby. He may not be the biggest centre in the world but he still managed to charge through 3 tacklers to touch down. Sean Wright had already opened the scoring on 3 with a penalty and the successful conversion took it to 10 -0. Leigh had little to offer offensively and struggled to manage the dominant Lymm scrum. The home team kept their shape and it was a surprise that it was half time before they scored again. Dave Roberts bursting into space and notching his 12th try of his 15 year career.
15-0
Leigh asked for uncontested scrums and Norcott, generously agreed. It didn’t stop Lymm from dominating the loose and contact area and a 5 minute spell on the Leigh try line allowed Roberts, again, to waltz untouched over. Wright notched the difficult conversion 22-0. Similar pressure on 55 allowed old timer Millington, playing at hooker, to trundle over but Wright missed the conversion before departing the scene to go to work. Emmit switched to 10 and Matt Connolly went to 15. It was Emmit’s sublime skill on 71 that pushed the score further. A delicate chip, chase and pick up made it 34-0 for the new 10. On 80 mins man of the match Tom Darbyshire notched a deserved try after a scintillating display of controlled aggression and “dog”.
39-0
Director of Rugby Richard Boundy was impressed with the squad depth. “the last game I watched was only 4 games ago and there were 8 or 9 different players. Nudger Norcott has a real team ethic going and the lads seem to be really enjoying the deserved success. We could be a real force in the premier league next year if we get promoted! It’s also great to watch probably 9 or 10 possible 1st teamers in this team. I suppose that’s what 2s rugby is about” Norcott was unavailable for comment which was unusual. Man of the match Darbyshire’s only concern was whether anyone took any photos for his scrapbook.