THERE was no “after the Lord Mayor’s show” feeling for Lymm Rugby Club on Saturday as they returned from Billingham with their perfect record intact.

Showing no signs of fatigue from their victory over fellow high-fliers Leeds Tykes last weekend, Adam Fletcher’s men flew out of the traps and had a bonus point secured well before half-time.

Despite a period thereafter in which their director of rugby admitted they “weren’t at their best,” they had enough to secure a 36-26 victory – a 10th in as many matches this season.

It means they stay four points clear at the top of the National League Two North table having amassed 50 points – the maximum number available to date and just five shy of their tally for the entirety of last season.

They have already surpassed the number of league victories they managed in the previous campaign ahead of Wharfedale’s visit on Saturday, when another bumper crowd is expected at Crouchley Lane.

“The first 20 minutes was exactly what we wanted – we fired out of the blocks and secured the four-try bonus point,” Fletcher said.

“For the remaining 60 minutes, we weren’t at our best, making some uncharacteristic handling errors and giving away too many penalties.

“Billingham put us under real pressure just before half time, but we put in a great defensive effort to keep them out which was vital for momentum.

“The try of the game has to go to Billingham from the cross-field kick/pass. However, it was great to get the five points up in the north east.”

Lymm started in dominant fashion, with Paddy Jennings touching down Nathan Beesley’s kick after just two minutes before Jack Reynolds ghosted in for another try shortly afterwards that he converted himself.

Oli Higginson then powered over from a Cal Morris short ball, with Reynolds’ conversion taking the score to 19-0 and although Billingham managed to get themselves on the board, another sweet move saw Jack Stride go over to secure the bonus point before half-time.

The visitors picked up where they left off after the break, with Higginson finishing off another excellent sequence of passing to take the score to 31-7, but the hosts refused to go quietly and scored two quickfire tries to reduce the deficit to 12 points.

This, however, only served to wake the visitors up and Jennings then added his second try to round off their scoring.

Billingham had the final say to ensure they were able to take a four-try bonus point from the contest, but it was Lymm’s day once again.

Lymm: Dan Hunter, Rob Makin, Matty Hand, Ben Thompson, Rhys Lilly, Seb Kelly, Josh Hadland, Oli Higginson; Cal Morris, Jack Reynolds; Paddy Jennings, Sam Wadsworth, Ste Pilkington, Jack Stride, Nathan Beesley. Subs: Ben Lilley, James Pitcher, Samir Tahraoui, Ethan Kermode, Tom Manaton