Lymm get back to winning ways

LYMM got back to winning ways with a scrappy 20-15 victory over Beverley as windy conditions spoiled the match for both teams making handling very difficult.
Beverley started in a determined mood and dominated play for most of the first half. It was a bit of a shock to Lymm’s system that the Beverley pack put them under more pressure in the set piece than the Caldy pack managed to do the previous week. Lymm were pushed off the ball in the early scrums and defended the blind side poorly to let Beverley in for a try after only 7 minutes. Lymm 0 – Beveley 5.
It was a bit of a surprise to everybody that scrum-half Chris Kinsey, in the twilight of his career, managed to open up the Beverley defence by dummying and sprinting (as quickly as he could) for the line to set up a position from which winger Jack Johnstone ultimately scored to level the scores at 5 – 5. Those early morning stretches to get his ageing limbs going certainly paid dividends today !
Lymm were taken by surprise when a knock-on at the line-out was not spotted by the referee, but it did not excuse the poor tackling that opened up a clear channel to the line for Beverley to go ahead with a converted try on 22 minutes. Lymm 5 – Beverley 12.
Forward pressure from Beverley forced Lymm into conceding a series of penalties, fortunately only one of which was converted on 29 minutes to stretch the lead to 5 – 15. At this point it seemed likely that Beverley could go on to win this match.
Lymm began their comeback on 35 minutes when Alex Bennett forced his way over the line following a catch and drive from a five-metre, attacking, line-out. These forward drives and sort of tries are becoming much more the trademark tries of this team. Half-time came with the score Lymm 10 – Beverley 15.
Two minutes into the second half a charge-down from hooker Pete Allen set up another line-out opportunity for the Lymm forwards to demonstrate this finely honed skill. This time it was flanker Jake Ashall who barged over the line from 5 metres out. Matthew Barnes-Smith managed to convert the try to put Lymm into the lead for the first time: Lymm 17 – Beverley 15.
The next 25 minutes of play were less than enthralling. It would have been easy for those on the touchline to be critical of the sloppy play from both teams, but they realised the impact of the very testing weather conditions. The Beverley mid-field runners threatened to break through the Lymm defence upon occasion, but without really threatening the line. Lymm were held up over the line on 56 minutes, but did not extend the lead until the 67th minute when Barnes-Smith kicked a penalty from under the posts, following a misdemeanour by a Beverley forward, penalised for not rolling away from a tackle. The score moved to Lymm 20 – Beverley 15, leaving Lymm 3 minutes to earn a try-scoring bonus point.
Despite much endeavour the Lymm pack could not force their way over the Beverley line for a fourth try. Perhaps, on the balance of play they did not deserve it. However, the win, for which all home supporters were quite happy to settle, lifted Lymm to joint 4th in the league. This was not a day, because of the weather, to form any meaningful judgment about the likely fate of these two teams in the league, but one would expect on today’s showing to see the bolstered resources of Beverley lifting them out of the bottom three.
It is to be hoped that the weather next week at Waterloo will allow the true form of the teams to be shown. Last year Lymm seriously underperformed in the driving rain and mud at Blundellsands. Lymm hope for drier, calmer conditions, but in any event will face a team that will be keen to win, following a narrow defeat away at Morley.
As soon as Head Coach, Chris Kinsey, gathered his breath he gave credit to the team spirit and dogged determination that saw his team turn a possible defeat into a much needed win today, just !!
Team: 15: Williamson 14: Barnes-Smith 13: Bray (T) 12; Fletcher 11: Johnstone 10: Knowles ( c) 9: Kinsey 8 Bray (A) 7: Ashall 6: Higginson 5: Williams 4: Bennett 3: Widdrington 2: Allen 1: Ashton. Replacements: Ferguson, Harrison, Oakes.