What's being said after Lymm RFC suffer first home loss for more than a year
LYMM RFC have dropped to third place as a result of their 47-33 home defeat to Tynedale at the weekend.
At the 51-minute mark in the National League 2 North encounter, Lymm trailed 47-19 but they dug in deep to score the last two tries of the match, giving them a platform for this Saturday’s trip to third-from-bottom Otley.
Nevertheless, it was Lymm’s first defeat at home for more than 12 months.
Director of rugby Adam Fletcher said: “Tynedale were excellent. They pounced on our mistakes and punished us.
“There were a couple of big swings in the game that we were on the wrong side of. Tynedale were certainly good value for the win.
“It was positive that we scored the last two tries and should have scored another one – that showed good character.”
“The boys will have to show even more character this week as playing at Otley is always tough - but I’m confident we can bounce back and get the five points.”
Lymm were hit by the Friday night withdrawal of skipper Nathan Beesley and Samir Tahroui through illness/injury, but welcomed back Oli Higginson, Toby Wilson and Ethan Kermode for a clash against a Northumbrian side enjoying a purple patch, having won seven and drawn one of their last nine matches.
Scoring went back and to in the early stages, with tries by Rob Makin and Rhys Lilly – one converted by Tom Shard – put the hosts 12-7 in front.
But Tynedale fired back with three unanswered tries to move 28-12 ahead in the late stages of the first half.
Lymm needed some inspiration to rebuild momentum – and it came on the stroke of half time from Lymm man-of-the-match Paddy Jennings as it was from his barrelling run from halfway that led to a try for Cal Morris, converted by Shard.
The first score of the second half was going to be massive and Tynedale proceeded to dominate the first 11 minutes, crossing for three converted tries.
It would have been easy now for Lymm’s heads to drop, but to their credit they started to get back in the game and wrapped up the scoring with tries from James Pitcher and Ben Thompson, with Shard converting.
Lymm: Ben Lilley, Rob Makin, Matty Hand, James Yates, Ben Thompson, Rhys Lilly, Oli Higginson, Josh Hadland, Cal Morris, Tom Shard, Paddy Jennings, Ste Pilkington, Toby Wilson, Andy Williams, Jack Reynolds. Replacements: Joe Higgins, James Pitcher, Ethan Kermode, Isaac Millachip, Tom Manaton
