Always a tough encounter against a robust side that always give their all. Ormskirk travelled to Lymm and won a game with some good open rugby, the score rather flattering the home side, who although they scored two very good tries, were on the back foot for the majority of the game.
Ormskirk started brightly in a game reduced to 14 a-side due to the home side’s failure to field a full 15, and ably refereed by Ormskirk’s Simon Kirk as Lymm had no recognised referree. Although the rucking was passable it was the handling a support play that saw waves of Ormskirk attack, forwards and backs linking excellently to build a platform in the Lymm 22 from which Eddie Webster broke from a maul a ploughed through three tackles to score. Jonny Dunn adding an impressive conversion. Straight from the restart, Ormskirk swarmed back in to Lymm’s half and only desperate tackling and good clearance kicking kept the visitors out.
It was only a matter of time before Ormskirk scored again and a slick handling move from the backs set full back Griffiths away, not needing any invitation, he outstripped the defence to score in the corner. Lymm to their credit did not cave in and came back with one of their only visits to the Ormskirk half and worked a good try out wide. More good support play from Ormskirk who were now camped in Lymm territory again kept the pressure on. The ball was moved down the backs and Liam Peate had to stretch down to his laces to pick up a pass, which he did superbly and fed the ball to Gavin Griffiths, who sprinted away to score in the corner right on the stroke of half time. He then slotted a great conversion from the touchline to give Ormskirk a 19-5 half time lead.
Lymm played much better in the second half and although Ormskirk continued to have the majority of possession and territorial advantage, they were thwarted on numerous occasions but good tackling and clearance kicks. Ormskirk’s pressure finally told when another sweeping handling move from their own half was finished off by Eddie Webster again popping up to support the backs and proving too strong for the defence to score in the corner, Gav’s conversion just dropping short. As Ormskirk took their foot off the gass, on a very heavy pitch, Lymm finished the game with a well worked try, taking a leaf out of Ormskirk’s book and handling the ball well to score a converted try in the last few minutes.
Good performances notably from Jack O’Brien in defence and attack, Aaron Cheung and Chris Boylan (returning after 4 years in India - the best excuse to escape training I’ve ever heard of!).
The squad now prepares for a must win Lancs Cup game at Fleetwood in a few weeks. Training at the club next week will concentrate on ball retention, tackling and rucking as this is the last training session before Christmas.
