by Simon Plumb
LYMM suffered a last gasp controversial defeat as they went down 30-28 at Sandal.
Going back many years fixtures between Lymm and Sandal have always been tough, close encounters and this match, on a dry, cloudy but pleasant autumnal afternoon near Wakefield, was to be no different.
A promising break by Lymm soon after kick off, when a try scoring pass was dropped, resulted in Sandal promptly breaking through with the left winger going in from 45m out. 5-0 after 8 minutes.
Despite improvements in Lymm’s line out the previous week, the old problems and insecurities returned. This allowed the depleted Sandal team to build both momentum and confidence. There was parity in the scrums and from one attacking line out centre Richard Halford was put clear only to fumble the ball at the key moment.
Relentless pressure in the Sandal 22 gave winger Cormac Nolan a straightforward penalty which he converted after 22mins. 5-3. Yet another poor line out gifted an attacking position to the hosts who took full advantage with quick hands, a clever chip to score another unconverted try after 24mins. 10-3. The ball appeared to be dropped in the attacking movement but was deemed to have travelled backwards by the ref.
Full back Joe Denham was then replaced for a hand injury, by Mike Floyd in the centre as Joe Knowles moved to full back. Shortly afterwards Nolan had another penalty shot as Sandal were penalised for cynically holding while in a defensive position. 10-6 after 28mins. Prop Dan Horton then received a yellow card for a tipping in the tackle. The resultant penalty was converted making it 13-6 after 32mins.
Line outs continued to be a problem taking the sting out of Lymm’s attacking positions, with players and spectators getting increasingly frustrated. Ollie Higginson at No 8, looked imperious at times and, after one sumptuous break by Tom Bray, stepped the first defender, then handed off the next to score near the posts. Nolan somehow missed the conversion and this was to haunt him and the team in their beds that night. 13-11 with a couple of minutes on the clock before half time.
Determined defence following yet another lost line out kept Sandal out as the half came to an exciting close. Higginson, now playing in the centre due to an injury to Halford, was once again the source of the next score as he broke through and was harshly adjudged to have brushed the touchline as he placed the ball over the line in the corner. Lymm’s feeling of injustice was short-lived though as, from the resultant line-out, Mullarkey stole the Sandal ball and forced his way over the line. 13-16 but the conversion was missed. From the re-start Nolan’s clearance kick was charged down, moved through several pairs of hands for Sandal to score and re-take the lead at 20-16.
Finally, after winning an attacking line out and good continuity from second row Joe McGrail and Tom Baker at scrum half, Adam Bray was released to score under the posts for a 20-23 lead. A
penalty for Sandal levelled the scores at 23-23 with 20mins to go and all to play for.
Skipper Adam Bray at open side was having his usual busy game and made a great break on the right, following good work from Baker, feeding winger Chris Owens who scored wide out. 23-28.
But Sandal are a stubborn side and would have scored soon after but for sloppy passing. The next score would determine the result and as Lymm attacked with 5mins to go, all was looking good for the visitors.
Sandal then went through the phases in the Lymm 22 as the clocked ticked away, but Lymm’s defence seemed to have done enough although Adam Bray was yellow carded. Then Lymm were awarded a scrum 5m out for the Sandal attacker running into his own man. Defend this, kick it clear and the win was theirs.
Conscious no doubt of the Sandal prop and hooker both striking for the ball throughout the match, Baker was deemed to have fed the ball crookedly at the scrum and the newly arrived prop replacement dived over the line for a somewhat dubious last minute try, despite protestations of a knock-on, and a final score of 30-28.
In truth Sandal probably deserved the win for pure doggedness, as Lymm had failed to take points when they were offered and create enough of a scoring gap when they should have done, keeping the hosts in the game.
This was a frustrating afternoon but there were some promising touches from some of the seasoned players who appear to be in good form and determined to take this side as far as they can possibly go. This maturity and ability to close out games will be important as the season progresses. Next Saturday, Lymm are at home to Doncaster Phoenix, KO 3pm.
Squad:
1) Dan Horton, 2) Ross White, 3) Jordan Widdrington, 4) Joe McGrail, 5) Will Baldwin, 6) Sam Mullarkey, 7) Adam Bray (C), 8) Ollie Higginson, 9) Tom Baker, 10) Tom Bray, 11) Cormac Nolan,
12) Richard Halford, 13) Joe Knowles, 14) Chris Owens, 15) Joe Denman, 16) Mike Auden, 17) Joe Watson, 18) Mike Floyd
