23/02/2025
FYLDE 45 LYMM 17: match report by Will Judd
After three defeats on the bounce, including a loss to bottom team in the league last time out, it seemed like a pretty tall order for Fylde to avoid a fourth defeat, this time against a promotion chasing Lymm team, who destroyed them away early in the season.
But, despite this, anything can happen at the Woodlands and Fylde came out looking to prove a point on Alex Loney’s and Chris Briers’ 100th game in charge.
Lymm had all the early momentum, but poor decisions left them pointless after ten minutes, and it was Fylde who took an early lead. Fullback Freddie Reader found space on halfway before selling a monstrous dummy to skip past two defenders and touch down for a sensational solo try. The conversion by new loanee fly-half Will Hunt was good and Fylde led against the run of play.
Again, Lymm were dropping chances and at the 25 minute mark Fylde punished them once more, initially through Hunt’s converted penalty and then another kick caused chaos.
Lymm knocked the ball on and their defensive line was broken once again, the ball eventually spilling lose in the away side’s 22 for Reader to pick up and score his second of the game. Despite the momentum being on Lymm’s side, it was the home team who were 15 points clear.
However things took a turn when Mike Walton was sin-binned for a late challenge, despite a far more dubious Lymm high tackle off the ball was ignored by the officials. Perhaps in some form of poetic justice the penalty directly under the posts was missed by Lymm’s replacement stand-off, who was only on the pitch due to a worrying injury for Tom Shard. [Everyone at the Woodlands sends their best wishes to the talented playmaker who was stretchered off on 19 minutes.]
Despite the miss, they were back five minutes later, finally getting points on the board when Joe Senior dived over in the far-right corner, a direct result of a dominant scrum. A massive Sam Wadsworth kick gave them seven points before half-time.
A yellow card for Lymm centre Jack Stride was the only other moment in the first half and the game was nicely balanced at 15-7 for a final 40 minute battle.
Fylde started the second half strongly with Will Hunt kicking penalties in the 45th & 50th minutes. However, in-between the six points, seven went astray after a line break and kick chase was failed to be converted as the ball was agonisingly fumbled in the Lymm goal area.
But the try would come a few moments later when Lymm fail to take the ball to ground, instead throwing the ball further and further back until Adam Lanigan stole it and flew away into the right-hand corner. No conversion, but the score was on Fylde’s side at 26-7.
Ten minutes later and it was Ben Turner’s time for Fylde as Lymm once again struggled with handling, a touch from an opposition hand ensured he was onside and despite the away side disputing the call, he raced into the corner, with an excellent conversion by Hunt who’s in-field kicking had been excellent all game.
The game was drifting away from Lymm but they did get some joy when Wadsworth scored in the far-left corner after a classy passing phase, much closer to the quality Lymm have shown this season.
It was a superb second half performance from the boys from the Coast and they were able to kill the game off for good with ten to play when some neat passing play found Lanigan on the left-hand side of the 22 for a nice score. No conversion, but it wasn’t needed as the score was a definitive 38-12. It was excellent to see the return of Lanigan to the starting 1st XV after a prolonged recovery from a broken leg when playing for Lancashire in May last year and he showed his finishing class.
The game was rounded up already, but that didn’t stop the action in the frantic last two minutes. It was started with Freddie Reader completing his hat-trick in a mirror image copy of the spilled try earlier in the half.
But less than a minute later Lymm dived over with Tom Manaton to salvage some pride after a tough afternoon for the visitors.
It may have been difficult for Lymm, but for Fylde it was an much improved performance and victory against their recent run of form, a game that the coaches and players alike in which they can take considerable pride. Will Hunt, on loan from Sale FC, had a very positive debut, had a personal haul of 15 points.
The Coaches Man of the Match was the indefatigable David Fairbrother who gave just the latest in an 'action man' display.
Click here for Chris Farrow's album of action photos https://bit.ly/3CQbBhO
FYLDE 15 Reader; 14 Turner, 13 Clayton, 12 Stott (Forster 69), 11 Lanigan; 10 Hunt, 9 Kincart; 1 Rudkin, 2 Parker (Williamson 40), 3 Trippier (King 47), 4 Walton (Morgan 59), 5 Garrod, 6 Quinn (Dorrington 65), 7 Harrison ©, 8 Fairbrother.
LYMM 15 Wadsworth; 14 Senior, 13 Stride, 12 Wilson, 11 Reay; 10 Shard (Simpson 19), 9 Morris; 1 Higgins (Yates 54), 2 Makin, 3 Hunter (Woods 40, Higgins 69), 4 Tahraoui, 5 Yates (Pitcher 45), 6 Kermode, 7 Callander (Hill 69), 8 Lilly.
The Woodland Memorial Ground
