Match Report by Huw Kane

Injuries and unavailability forced York to rotate the squad again this week, travelling with a number of new combinations that provided debut opportunities for Joe Baker and James Simpson. Congestion on the car park that is called the M62 didn’t help the preparation adding an additional hour to the journey that had the team wondering whether they should get changed on the bus. As it turned out the kick-off was delayed but York had very little time to get the extended journey out of their legs. Further last-minute change was enforced in a near repeat of the famous shooting incident with Carl Neary; Ed Westaby forced to watch from the bench after pulling his calf in the warm up. Will Norris stepped up.

Despite the far from ideal preparation York made a lively start moving the ball with some composure and presence to take the game to the Lymm line but great jackaling stemmed the attack and saved the try. Lymm were quick to respond. Strong driving and good continuity took the play quickly back to the York line where Kurt Riley used his not inconsiderable size to force his way over from 2m. A record breaking distance for him according to one on the touchline. Lymm lead 7-0.

Both sides were testing each other with strong driving runs and equally strong tackling. None more so than ex Sale Shark Johnny Leota playing in the centre for Lymm who made everyone think twice about running in his channel with some bone crunching hits. Despite this, York maintained the pressure. A characteristic chip through by Cusack saw Joe Baker outpace the defence for his debut try. Lymm 7, York 5, Cusack frustratingly hitting the upright with the conversion.An uncharacteristically dysfunctional York line out performance that was to persist throughout the game gave Lymm the lion’s share of possession which they used well to bring an energy and pace on to the ball. Lymm, definitely on top now, kept the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty kick before another try took them to a 15-5 half time lead.

Lymm started the second half where they left off. A strong run by Riley breaking the tackle turned the York defence. Swift hands took Lymm over in the corner. Conversion missed, 20-5 Lymm extended their lead.The strong wind and rain in the face of York contributed to Lymm commanding a lot of territory in the second half. When the elements are against you, it is particularly important to secure your set piece ball. Despite the changes in the front row York scrummaged well but could not get their line out to work winning only two of their own lineouts in the entire game. Forced to run the ball out of defence, York were always under pressure.

The return of Toby Atkin at 9 brought more tempo, control and accuracy of service from the breakdown but York looked static and at times ponderous with ball in hand. This wasn’t helped by the Lymm back line who seemed to have managed the art of getting their defensive line in the referee’s blind spot as they spent much of the game off side but didn’t get penalised for it until late into the game.Atkin’s energy and quick thinking to take a tap penalty and go as Lymm were retreating had cries of “not ten” from the touch line, ignored by the referee thankfully who must have been playing advantage as the Cusack-Baker combination was in action again; Baker touching down for his second from the delicately threaded chip. York closing the gap, 20-12.

The try of the game came shortly after when Johnny Leota came on a short line taking three defenders out of the game. Lymm recycled well feeding fly half Scott Redfern to the left who deftly slipped an inside pass to right wing Senior who hit the gap left by Leota at pace on a beautiful line running right to left that wrong footed the defence and took him to the line untouched. It was impossible to stop. 25-12 to Lymm. The referee had by now decided he should look behind him more often. Coincidently, the clubhouse was set up for their annual pantomime. Cries of “he’s behind” you I hear. Behind you he was – offside again. A yellow card resulted but the extra man didn’t make enough difference with Lymm adding a further penalty to take the final score to 28-12.

York battled hard as they always do but couldn’t put the performance together that would beat this competent Lymm side. We reached deep into the squad and didn’t have a great preparation but were left questioning why we didn’t throw more short ball to get the line out working and is it slow ball from the breakdown or playing too flat in the back line without injection of pace that causes Cusack to have to hold and hold before chipping through?