Stockport out played by a superior Lymm XV

Stockport once again produced a promising first half but were outplayed by a superior Lymm team to go down 33-5, having only managed to score an unconverted try. Despite being nearer to the first choice team than in recent weeks the Stockport effort, particularly in the forwards, was not matched by good decision making or good execution. Lymm were better organised and their superior kicking from hand kept them on the front foot and Stockport needed to produce some good defence to keep the home side from converting several scoring opportunities during the first half. Lymm scored either side of the half time break to ensure victory with a lead of 21-5 before adding two more tries later in the second half.

The first half was closely fought, Lymm scored first after a missed tackle allowed their strong running 13 to go into the 22 and give a pass, which allowed the supporting player to touch down despite Stockport’s tackle. After 25 minutes a good break down the middle, by Mike Waddington (who was once again a real leader for Stockport) allowed the ball to be recycled and moved left for wing Myles Hall to run 20 metres to score. There was a missed penalty attempt for Stockport before the Lymm No. 8 broke some poor tackles to run in from the 22, making it 14-5 to the home team. Stockport then produced their best drive of the game, with the forwards making some 30 metres and tying in enough Lymm players to create an overlap on the right. What looked like a certain try was squandered as the final long pass went straight into touch, leaving it at 14-5 to Lymm at half time.

Lymm scored early in the second half as Stockport failed to deal with a kick ahead by Lymm, the pressure by the home players following up gave them possession and the ball was moved wide to the left for the wing to score. With the conversion the lead was 21-5. Another kick ahead, resulted in a quickly taken line out by Stockport, which did not go 5 metres, the scrum to Lymm gave their fly half an easy run in under the posts and Lymm were out of sight at 28-5, with 30 minutes to go. Stockport did well to keep Lymm at bay for the next 20 minutes, a strong drive by the Lymm forwards gave them a penalty advantage but they opted to score the try by continuing the drive. There was no conversion to make it 33-5. Waddington held Lymm up as they went to drive over again and the Stockport scrum was solid enough to take one against the head and finish with a good break out by the backs that took them into the Lymm half as the game came to an end.

Next week is the last home game of the season, when a celebratory lunch will bring back together the players who won the Intermediate cup at Twickenham in 2006. Visitors Wirral are in second place in the table so a tough game is expected.