Match Report

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No pics, sorry. Grandsons birthday - pics of soccer instead!!

National League 3 North
saturday september 24th 2011
Beverley 14 v Lymm 25

Beverley beaten, but bonus point goes begging

Lymm’s forwards dominated play in the second half of this match to set up a deserved win, away at Beverley. Ashall, Bennett, Bray and, arguably, Man of the Match Oli Higginson repeatedly put Beverley on the back foot, with a series of forward runs and drives that set up tries for prop Ashton, flanker Ashall and skipper Knowles. In the last move of the match Andy Roberts was on hand to put the ball over the line to earn a bonus point, but unfortunately Alex Bennett could just not get the ball to him as he was pulled up short of the line. This move had been set up by a great run from Oli Higginson, who was excellent all afternoon, in the line-out, in open play and in the tackling department. Thirteen minutes earlier a dummy and dash for the line by Andy Roberts himself opened up Beverley’s defence to allow Joe Knowles to score under the posts. Knowles’ conversion brought his tally to 15 and the final score to: Beverley 14, Lymm 25.

Lymm should have scored three or four more tries, but the same could be said for Beverley. Both teams were committed to fast, open play, but equally guilty of poor passing or handling in their all too desperate attempts to cross the line. Beverley did score under the posts on 17 minutes, but they could have been three tries up at that point following blind-side breaks down the right-hand side of the pitch, mostly set up by their influential No.8 Worrall. Lymm’s mid-field defence looked vulnerable, but somehow managed to restrict Beverley to one try before half-time.

Knowles kicked two penalties on 24 and 37 minutes after good runs from scrum-half Baker, centre Tom Bray and winger Matthew Barnes-Smith that put Beverley’s more organised defence under pressure. With more clinical finishing Lymm could have scored three tries. A judgment that a defending player had been unfairly impeded, when the line had finally been opened up by a cleverly executed back move, resulted in the referee blowing for half-time with the score: Beverley 7, Lymm 6.

Luke Emmitt had replaced injured winger Dave Williamson just before half-time and within two minutes of the second half used his strength to break the gain-line, off-loading to Jake Ashall, who set up Lymm’s first try for prop Nick Ashton. B 7; L 11.

Emmitt put in a try-saving tackle on 50 minutes, but could not stop Beverley scoring their second try, when the vulnerability of Lymm’s mid-field defence was exposed again four minutes later to put Beverley back in front: B 14; L 11.

Beverley should have extended their lead on 56 minutes, but a knock-on over the line saved Lymm. It was in the last 24 minutes of the match that Lymm took control. A penalty kick into the corner on 64 minutes set up an attacking line-out 5 metres from Beverley’s line. An excellently executed line-out and forward drive from Adam Bray set up Jake Ashall for a try he thoroughly deserved for his all-round effort in attack and defence. This time Knowles converted to put Lymm back in front: B 14; L 18.

Crozier came on for Millachip and Raey for Widdrington before Lymm closed out the game with the Knowles try and conversion on 67 minutes. It was fitting that it was Oli Higginson, Jake Ashall and Alex Bennett who were involved in the final move of the match. Individually and collectively they had played very well and were largely responsible for securing the win. Credit should also be given to the Beverley centre, who fractured his cheekbone halting Lymm’s final attack. Both teams will be hopeful that failure to secure try-scoring bonus points will not be as critical as it was last season in determining their position in the league.

Team: 15 Knowles 14 Barnes-Smith 13 Boaden 12 Bray (T) 11 Williamson 10 Roberts 9 Baker 8 Bray (A) 7 Ashall 6 Millachip 5 Higginson 4 Bennett 3 Widdrington 2 Millington 1 Ashton. Replacements: Emmitt for Williamson (38); Crozier for Millachip (64); Raey for Widdrington (67)