There was little entertaining rugby on a wet day in Cheshire. Hats off to the gathering of Dale faithful who swelled the home crowd to an amazing 186. Warm words were given at the pre-lunch meal by Dale chairman, John Sykes, who congratulated Lymm for the amazing progress this season.
Dale were guilty of getting on the wrong side of the ref early on and conceded six penalties in the first 19 minutes and they picked up a yellow card. The first 3 penalties allowed Lymm to set up camp on Dale’s 5-metre line. A successful catch and drive ended with Oliver Higginson touching down and Jack Reynolds adding the conversion.
Dale fought hard until the interval but penalties and mistakes stopped them from getting any reward.
The second period started in a similar way to the beginning of the match. Two penalties saw Lymm again with a 5-metre line out and the pack did the rest. Robert Makin was awarded the score and Reynolds added the extras.
From the restart Dale started to dominate play and Lymm were now conceding penalties. They could not cross the whitewash despite spending multiple phases in Lymm’s 22. Lymm’s third try was the only bright moment of a dull day. Dale had a line-out outside Lymm’s 22. The ball was lost and Lymm went through 4 phases before an excellent break was made by Sam Wadsworth. He had hit the line at speed and took the pass and was gone and he had the skill to beat the defence to score himself. No conversion but this try seemed to break the deadlock and give Lymm the chance of a bonus point 4th try.
The fourth try again came when Dale were in Lymm’s 22 with an attacking lineout. Lymm won the ball and a huge kick was sent downfield which just held up before the dead-ball line. Under pressure from Lymm’s superfast winger, Patrick Jennings, the ball was fumbled and Lymm had an attacking 5-metre scrum. Lymm won the ball and on 2nd phase Tom Manaton scored. Reynolds was accurate from the tee to finish the scoring and the final whistle came as a relief.
Good luck to Lymm for the rest of the season and good luck when taking on the challenge of National One. Dale remain in 5th position and next week the squad have a weekend off before the run in to Christmas. Ist up, on December 7th, will be Chester at home followed by Fylde away and then the Christmas Derby against Harrogate at the Avenue.
Wharfedale: – Bullough; Viner, Prell, Cicognini, Hamilton; Davidson, Riddiough (Kaup-Samuels 51); Patchett, Stockdale (Collinson 69), Armstrong (Hirst 74), Borill, Hedgley (Beecroft 59), Heys (Hedgley 62), Pinder (Weston 74), Fawcett.
There are no match photographs this week due to the severe weather conditions in the northern reaches of North Yorkshire precluding safe travel by our photographer.