Lymm Rugby Club secure National Leagues survival despite loss

While they achieved the two points required to extend their stay in the National Leagues into a second season, they will feel an opportunity to seal the deal with a victory passed them by.

Adam Fletcher’s men were 42-27 up with just 16 minutes remaining, but hosts Preston Grasshoppers stormed back late on to snatch a 46-42 victory to secure their own safety from relegation.

The two bonus points Lymm were able to gain – one for scoring four or more tries and another for losing by less than seven points – means they can plan for being at their current level next season with two games still to play.

And Fletcher says they will be motivated to put on a show in their final home game of the season on Saturday as they welcome Billingham to Crouchley Lane.

“At 42-27, we should not be losing a game,” he said.

“Hoppers played some excellent off-loading rugby in the second half that we struggled to contain.

“We made a few poor defensive errors and a few simple mistakes that gave Hoppers a leg-up.

“It’s bittersweet as we got the two league points we needed to be mathematically safe, but I feel that a huge opportunity was missed to get our first double of the season.

“We want to finish the season on a high, especially at home next week. The lads are really up for putting on a show for the supporters.”

Harry Martin profited by a thunderous Josh Hadland tackle that dislodged the ball to give Lymm the lead, with the flanker picking up the spoils to score the opening try.

Hoppers crossed twice either side of Tom Shard’s penalty to bring the scores level at 10-10, but back-to-back tries then put the visitors in command.

Jack Stride took an Oli Higginson offload to score and then four minutes later, a rolling maul set up position for the ball to be recycled, with Cal Morris dotting down and Shard converting to take the score to 22-10.

Cal Morris on his way to scoring (Image: Tim Martin)

However, the hosts fought back and two more unconverted tries secured them a bonus point, but Shard’s goal-kicking meant Lymm were still two points ahead.

What followed was another Lymm purple patch as they added 13 unanswered points thanks to two Shard penalties and a bonus point-securing try from James Kimber, who was sent over by Morris and Shard’s conversion took them 15 points ahead.

James Kimber heads towards the try line (Image: Tim Martin)

However, a yellow card for Stride for a technical offence would prove pivotal as Hoppers fought back.

A converted try reduced Lymm’s lead to eight points and while Higginson and Morris combined to send Nathan Beesley over to re-establish command, the hosts were able to complete the turnaround.

Nathan Beesley touches down (Image: Tim Martin)

They scored 19 unanswered points thanks to two Declan Norrington tries and one from Tyler Spence and try as they might, Lymm could not find a response to snatch back the victory.

Lymm: Gav Woods, James Pitcher, Matty Hand, Rhys Lilly, James Yates, Josh Hadland, Harry Martin, Oli Higginson; Callum Morris, Tom Shard; Paddy Jennings, Jack Stride, James Kimber, Nathan Beesley, Alfie Simpson. Subs: Rob Makin, Jordan Widdrington, Cashel Chilvers, Andy Rowley, Andy Williams