Lymm demolish Blackburn

LYMM Rugby Union turned the screw on the league title with a dominating disposal of relegated Blackburn.
In beautiful conditions, suited to running rugby, Lymm notched 12 tries and may have had many more. The afternoon started in sombre mood with an impeccable minute’s silence for club stalwart, Keith Etherington.
Keith, ever the rugby purist, would have enjoyed the win but not the one sided game itself.
Lymm recalled captain Fletcher to 13 in place of the unavailable Williamson. Miksys, recently converted to front row started and classy back rower Cullinane returned from absence. Deadline day signing Tim Oakes benched and all eyes were on scrum half Stringer who was playing his last game before jetting off to top class US rugby with the Chicago Griffins.
Looking back at the score it’s difficult to understand how it took Lymm 12 mins to trouble the scorer. A Johnstone fumble should have broken the deadlock on four mins but it wasn’t until Tom Hughes scampered over after five phases of patient attack. Andy Roberts went over seven mins later with a barrelling run, aggressively slamming through three tacklers. Lymm were dominating the left flank and used their pace to perfection on 23 when Johnstone notched his first of four tries. Lovely hands from Pickles, pace from Knowles and finally a lovely pass to the pacey winger.
Stringer scored a popular try on 26 with an interception and 50 metre sprint before Cullinane finished off a lovely move with Fletcher and prop Bates exchanging passes.
The half finished with Scott Harrison latching on to another Pickles orientated thrust. Knowles, the league’s top kicker managed four of the six conversions to make it 38-0 at the break.
Kinsey replaced the impressive Harrison with new boy Oakes and gave Tom Darbyshire a well earned opportunity by taking off veteran warhorse Sutton at half time.
Blackburn were facing a potential cricket score at this stage and despite two early tries from Johnstone again tormenting his opposite wing, they kept their discipline and started to force Lymm at contact. Indeed Lymm showed real signs of frustration and there was an audible sigh of relief when Knowles finally took a chance on 70 mins. The visiting defence finally capitulated and Johnstone went over for his 4th. Oakes created a popular score for new tight head Miksys and then Cullinane finished it off for his second at the whistle.
Lymm’s home average score is for 34, against eight. With four home games remaining from six it is hard to see any team dislodging the champions in waiting. Indeed Rugby World have judged Lymm to be the team of the month for February.
Kinsey felt happy with the performance. He said: “ In a game which could have lost all shape we stuck to the game plan and this provided a great platform. We defended with discipline and aggression when we needed to and we look forward to taking that to our next game”.
Returning Fletcher clearly enjoyed himself saying “Some great tries. Very happy with the clean sheet and the win brings us closer to achieving our goal.”
Departing Stringer wanted to thank the club. He said “My time at Lymm has been really enjoyable. The club is first class top to bottom and I wish them all the best for the rest of the season.The lads have been great.”
Lymm travel to Broughton Park, who have play off aspirations themselves, in a tough looking fixture next week.
Team: 1.Danny Bates 2 Scott Harrison ( Tim Oakes 40) 3 Darius Miksys 4. Ollie Higginson, 5. Lee Pickles 6 Jake Ashall 7 Ian Cullinane 8. Mark Sutton (Tom Darbyshire) 9 Luke Stringer 10. Andy Roberts 11 Richard Butler 12 Tom Hughes 13 Adam Fletcher 14 Jack Johnstone 15. Joe Knowles C