by Lymm secured a 26-0 victory over Wharfedale in a match which, due to wet Cheshire weather, saw “unentertaining rugby”.
The Wharfedale faithful took the local attendance to an impressive 186.
Warm words were spoken at the pre-lunch meal by Wharfedale chairman John Sykes, who congratulated Lymm on this season’s progress.
Wharfedale were guilty of getting on the wrong side of the referee early on and conceded six penalties in the opening 19 minutes, and they were shown a yellow card.
The first 3 penalties allowed Lymm to set up camp on the Wharfedale 5 meter line.
A successful catch and drive ended with Oliver Higginson landing and Jack Reynolds adding the conversion.
Wharfedale fought hard until the break, but penalties and errors prevented them from getting any reward.
The second period started similarly to the start of the match.
Two penalties saw Lymm again with a 5 meter line and the peloton did the rest.
Robert Makin got the score and Reynolds added the extras.
From the restart, Wharfedale began to dominate the game and Lymm were now conceding penalties.
They were unable to cross the whitewash despite several phases spent in the 22 of Lymm.
Lymm’s third try was the only bright moment in a dull day.
Dale had a lineup outside of Lymm’s 22.
The ball was lost and Lymm went through 4 phases before an excellent break was made by Sam Wadsworth.
He had gotten to the line at high speed, taken the pass and gone, and he had the skill to beat the defense to score himself.
There was no conversion but this try appeared to break the deadlock and give Lymm the chance for a bonus point fourth try.
The fourth try came again when Wharfedale were in Lymm’s 22 with an attacking lineout.
Lymm won the ball and a huge kick was sent downfield which just held up short of the dead ball line.
Under pressure from Lymm’s lightning-fast winger Patrick Jennings, the ball was fumbled and Lymm launched a 5-yard attacking scrum.
Lymm won the ball and in the 2nd phase, Tom Manaton scored.
Reynolds was sharp from the start to finish off the scoring and the final whistle was a relief.
Dale remains in 5th position and next week the team will have a weekend off before Christmas.
The weekend will be followed by a match against Chester at home.
Then Fylde will be gone; and after that the Christmas Derby against Harrogate on the Avenue.
Wharfedale Bullough; Viner, Prell, Cicognini, Hamilton; Davidson, Riddiough (Kaup-Samuels 51); Patchett, Stockdale (Collinson 69), Armstrong (Hirst 74), Borill, Hedgley (Beecroft 59), Heys (Hedgley 62), Pinder (Weston 74), Fawcett
