West did not seem to have the sharpness of previous weeks and after an encouraging display last time out running 67 points in against Carlisle the handling once again left a lot to be desired. Lymm fully deserved their victory as they cut loose in the last quarter of the game running in some superb tries. Until that point it had been a nip and tuck affair but West failed to get any points from a period of pressure in the second half that proved costly.

Matt Barnes-Smith and Paul Moss traded penalties early on with Johnston adding a second on 15 minutes. West were punished for adventurously trying to run the ball 10 metres from their own line and when Greg Edwards was isolated the visitors turned the ball over and left fly-half Andy Roberts to go in for an easy opening try. Barnes-Smith converted for a 13-3 lead.

West battled back but with mistakes a plenty on both sides it became very stop-start and that seemed to suit the style of the Lymm forwards who were causing problems for West at the ruck and generating turnovers that were hindering the progress of the home pack. Darren Thomas did pull a try back 5 minutes before the break with a quick tap penalty from close range, managing to get the ball down after he was seemingly tackled just short.

The second period started more promisingly as two Moss penalties gave West a 14-13 lead but Lymm bounced back quickly with a well worked try on 51 minutes. They capitalised on an overlap on half way and winger Jack Johnston finished well, showing his pace as he rounded Gav Painter.

Barnes-Smith added a penalty after 63 minutes as the game began to slip away from West who couldn't say they hadn't had opportunities, they had just failed to threaten the line despite several good positions within the 22. A further Barnes-Smith penalty with 6 minutes remaining effectively sealed the game, the lead now stretched to ten points.

Lymm capped the victory with two late tries, the first a superb effort as the backs ran from deep again and cut the defence to shreds with some excellent handling before Barnes-Smith finished off the score. By now the back division were causing the hosts all sorts of problems and it seemed they could run from anywhere on the field and not be stopped. Another break from deep was momentarily halted short of the line but skipper Adam Fletcher eventually added the final try under the posts to leave Barnes-Smith an easy conversion, the winger finishing with 21 points.

West will no doubt be disappointed with the loss, especially with the way they collapsed in the late stages and allowed Lymm to display some exhibition running rugby. Fortunately this blip came in the cup and with an unbeaten league run to maintain next week at Pontefract there is no need to dwell on this defeat, with a perfect chance to bounce straight back in seven days time. Jon Boatman, rested today, should be restored to the back row for that game and his power, particularly from the base of the scrum, will be a welcome return.


West: Painter, Hare, Thorn (Williamson), Edwards, Thomas, Moss, Tighe, Carr, A Dixon, Robinson (Cullinane), T Dixon, Davies, Miller, Boatman (Tones), Garside

Tries: Thomas
Pens: Moss 3

Lymm: D Williamson, Johnston, D Naylor, Fletcher, Barnes-Smith, A Roberts, Kinsey, C Naylor, Girdlestone, Broadbent, Lythgoe, Higginson, A Williamson, Ashall, Sutton
Reps: Mann, D Roberts, Rockey, McGuire

Tries: A Roberts, Johnston, Barnes-Smith, Fletcher
Cons: Barnes-Smith 2
Pens: Barnes-Smith 4

Referee: Steve Havery [Durham Society]