ANOTHER week, another victory for Lymm Rugby Club.

Their win over Wharfedale at a windswept Crouchley Lane that extended their perfect start to the campaign to 11 wins from 11 was proof of the old adage that defence is the best form of attack.

Their 24-0 win saw them pick up another maximum five-point haul, and they are as many points clear of second-placed Sheffield, whom they visit in their next game on December 7 in what looks set to be a huge encounter.

Having created two early chances including Paddy Jennings having a try ruled out for putting a foot into touch as he dived to score, the hosts finally did hit the front when the ball stayed within the maul from a lineout and Seb Kelly shepherded the ball over the line, with Jack Reynolds adding the conversion.

With the weather worsening, the conditions made handling difficult and neither side was making much progress against the other’s defence, meaning there was no further score before the break.

After the interval, however, Lymm once again used the lineout to their advantage – after a penalty was kicked to within a couple of metres of the tryline, an unstoppable rolling maul ended with Rob Makin touching the ball down.

Wharfedale took this as their cue to attack, aided by some ill-discipline from the hosts, but the Lymm defence would not buckle and following a knock-on, a wind-assisted kick from Cal Morris flew downfield and nestled into the opposition in-goal to force a drop-out and relieve the pressure.

An Oli Higginson yellow card hindered their attempts to take advantage and the visitors were straight back on the attack, but to no avail and once Sam Wadsworth picked up a loose ball to weave his way through for the third try, it then became about whether or not Lymm could secure a bonus point.

They did so thanks to another kick downfield, which looked set to roll dead but misled the Wharfedale full-back, who knocked on to present Lymm with a five-metre scrum.

From it, it took just two phases for Tom Manaton to hit a good line and dive over for the all-important fourth score.

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