Stockport RUFC v Lymm Saturday 21 November 2015 National 3 North

Despite dominating possession for most of the first half and an excellent try by Myles Hall to give Stockport an early lead, the home side were unable to contain visitors Lymm and suffered a 34-8 point defeat in this local derby. A score on the stroke of half time allowed Lymm to draw level at 8-8. Stockport never managed to make any real impression in the second half, with Lymm taking control as they took advantage of the wind, with some well judged kicking and powerful driving play by their much bigger forwards. Once again Stockport were below full strength, the scrum half berth filled by back rower Alistair Green and Callum McMahon playing out of position at fullback.
The first score of the game was a penalty by Lymm, after Stockport had made a good start, with lots of possession but no real incursion into the Lymm 22. After 25 minutes some good play by Stockport took them into the Lymm half and a good short pass by Ollie Longmore to wing Myles Hall running a great line allowed Hall to go through the Lymm defence and run 40 metres to score. There was no conversion but 5 minutes later Richard Sackville-West converted a penalty to take Stockport 8-3 in front. Stockport were unable to take advantage of the the yellow card Lymm received to give the penalty. Lymm then had a period of extended pressure on the Stockport line following a penalty and line out. The Stockport defence looked solid but the pressure eventually told and Lymm scored an unconverted try to make it even at the break at 8-8.
Lyme got off to a good start in the second half when pressure on Stockport forced a turnover and the Lymm No. 11 ran through some poor Stockport tackling to score under the posts, the conversion gave the visitors a 15-8 lead. Stockport, seeking to play a passing game, rather than kicking into the wind found the Lymm defence put them under pressure. A high kick by Lymm was not secured and the No. 11 latched onto the bouncing ball and ran through for an easy score, again under the posts the conversion extended the lead to 22-8 and the game was looking beyond Stockport. Ben Marsland was yellow carded as Stockport were defending a line out drive. The Lymm scrum was dominant 5 metres out from the Stockport line and after winning two penalties were able to score an unconverted try from the 3rd scrum. In the final minute a poor Stockport clearance was collected by the Lymm right wing on half way and two long passes allowed Lymm to score an easy try and convert for a final score of 34-8.
With no game next week Stockport will be hoping some first choice players are fit to return for the away game against Wirral on 5 December.