LYMM RFC 22 v DMPRFC 20

Never a true saying, especially in this game, where Lymm were almost dead and buried, just waiting to be put to the sword, when Mowden conspired to self destruct and allow the home side to sneak the win.

Granted, this is from the perspective of a team very disappointed to lose the game and Lymm connections would probably retort differently. However, those connections would agree that for three of the four quarters, the home side were second best and in fact, Mowden butchered at least three other scoring opportunities, which would have put them out of sight.

The fact that this was not the case, gave Lymm a glimmer of hope, which they took with both hands, as Mowden got the last quarter all wrong. Instead of playing the percentages and being patient, the visitors were sloppy and flat in attack, rushing phases and coughing up possession, ultimately paying the price for not seeing out the game.

Lymm registered the first points of the afternoon with an early penalty, as both sides flexed their proverbial muscles.

An equally early long range effort was missed by Gavin PAINTER, falling short by the smallest of margins.

Lymm tackled very well and this resulted in only a solitary score for Mowden before oranges, when Ralph APPLEBY bullocked over from short range. The afters were wide for a score at the interval of 3 – 5.

Hard working Michael FORDE was on hand for an early score after oranges and even though the conversion was missed, the visitors began to dominate the game.

Charlie MASSARELLA added another, this time converted by Gavin PAINTER, who also was successful with a well struck penalty, as Mowden powered away to 3 – 20.

And then came meltdown.

Three unanswered home tries in the space of fifteen minutes, the latter of which was always going to result in a conversion success to overhaul their opponents, as Lymm, buoyed on by an enthusiastic crowd, pulled off one of the best comebacks since Lazarus was a lad.

Too late for Mowden to get back off the bus they had so prematurely climbed on after sixty minutes of what we all know is an eighty minute game.

Congratulations to Lymm RFC who ultimately had to haul Mowden back, which they did.