After recording three previous victories against Lymm during the course of the season the seconds were unable to continue their winning sequence with a disappointing performance at Beechwood. Again the seconds suffered from a number of their players being called up for first team duties but they managed to shuffle their recourses and take a squad of seventeen down the M6.
Included in the ranks were three debutants, bothers Stephan and Kyron Sharples and young Tom Head, in addition Tom Needham was making his first appearance of the season, all four playing an active part.
Once the game had kicked off further problems were thrown the second’s way when prop Matt Field suffered a recurrence of a neck injury in the thirtieth minute and because the Vale had no experieved front row replacement the scrums went uncontested, not a bad thing in the context of the game because the Lymm eight looked a strong scrummaging unit from the start.
The first half saw both sides searching for an opening and although the seconds were under pressure they hung on. It might not have been pretty to watch but the seconds scrambled, covered, tackled to deny Lymm any clear cut chances. The home side eventually broke their resistance in the thirty third minute with a converted try.
Lymm quickly built on the score in the second half scoring tries in the forty seventh, fifty third and fifty sixth minutes. There was some consolation for the seconds because in the sixty sixth minute Harry Vause went over for a try after he had intelligently back up a flowing Vale attack, Ryan Fawcett put over the conversion.
However, the last words belonged to Lymm as they added three further tries, two of which were converted.
It had been a rather disjointed performance from the seconds which was hardly surprising with the number of changes which had been forced upon them. Andrew Waite was again voted man of the match after yet another whole hearted, totally committed performance. As always Bobby Holbrook gave his all, a real bundle of nonstop energy from start to finish, how he is going to be missed when he departs at the end of the season! Josh Lee worked tirelessly, Harry Vause fully deserved his score, Lee Starkey grafted hard but unfortunately the seconds were never able to dictate the pattern of the game. Their battle to avoid relegation continues at Sale on Saturday in what could be a tricky fixture but hopefully they will have some of their regulars featuring on the team sheet.
Thanks to Reg Robinson for his notes and observations.