LYMM v FYLDE
Fylde prepare for only their second ever visit to Crouchley Lane at 1st XV level to face a buoyant Lymm RFC in National League Two (North) on Saturday (ko 14.30). Last season was Lymm’s first at level 4 in the RFU league hierarchy. They had a decent season and finished in 10th place. They embarrassed Fylde by travelling to the Woodlands in late September 2023 and on a dismally damp day they snatched a 14-15 victory through a dramatic last minute dropped goal by fly-half Tom Shard.
The Lancastrians exacted revenge in late January when they were victorious by 28-50 at Crouchley Lane on a day when they rattled up 33 unanswered points in the last 28 minutes in an overall 7 try display.
Lymm RFC is a relatively young club, being formed initially as a drinking club in 1959 but transforming into a rugby club a year later. It grew steadily but its principal breakthrough was its emergence as a multi-sports club, with healthily buoyant tennis and hockey memberships who share space, the grounds at Crouchley Lane. This has become a major sporting base in Cheshire. The Clubhouse can safely be regarded as quite unique, being the former stable block of a large country house. The main pitch at Crouchley Lane is one of the RFU funded 4G pitches.
For a decade up to 2022-23 Lymm’s 1st XV has competed at level 5 in the RFU league hierarchy, in what is now called Regional One North West. In the last four seasons they increased their pressure on the one promotion place available, finishing in 11th, 7th, 5th and in 2022-23 1st in the division edging past Blackburn in a fierce battle for a place in the National Leagues. This is the highest achievement in the Club’s history.
Lymm has a very successful Mini-Junior section and this provides a well trodden path through to the 1st XV.
Lymm’s 2nd team compete in the NOWIRUL Premier Division alongside Fylde Hawks.
Lymm’s 1st XV have started the new season in outstanding fashion winning their first two games, both away from home. They travelled first to Hull Ionians where they were victorious by 27-39 and then in a local Cheshire contest overwhelmed Chester by 19-51 at Hare Lane. Fylde will have their work cut out to come away with league points on Saturday.
Lymm’s Director of Rugby is Adam Fletcher and the Head Coach is Andy Davies. Additional coaching support is provided by Tom Bray (backs) and the newly appointed forwards coach Mark Williams, currently the Head Coach of Liverpool John Moores University and the Forwards Coach for North of England U18s.
Two of their most influential players are halfbacks Cam Morris (scrum-half) and Tom Shard (flyhalf). Shard is a kicker of great skill and productivity. Losing three stones over the summer suggests that his skills will be even more on display this season. Cam Morris is also a fine in-field and touch kicker with a massive range. These attributes were perfectly on display in the meeting of the clubs in September 2023. On that wet, miserable day, the tactical kicking of the pair was crucial. Fylde will be expecting plenty of aerial challenge on Saturday.
But Lymm is far more a couple of kickers. Their backline has pace and trickery including fullback Jack Reynolds, skipper Nathan Beesley, centre Ste Pilkington and winger Paddy Jennings. Their pack is strong and is creating enough possession to unleash their dangerous back line.
A recent player link between Fylde and Lymm is prop forward Joe Higgins who came from the Cheshire club, made eight appearances for Fylde in 2022-23 and then returned to Crouchley Lane.
Lymm’s line-up at Chester last Saturday was:
15 Jack Reynolds; 14 Nathan Beesley (c), 13 Ste Pilkington, 12 Sam Wadsworth, 11 Paddy Jennings; 10 Tom Shard, 9 Cam Morris; 1 Joe Higgins, 2 Rob Makin, 3 Matty Hand, 4 Josh Maskery, 5 Rhys Lilly, 6 Harry (Saxton-) Martin, 7 Josh Hadland, 8 Oli Higginson. Reps: 16 Ben Lilly, 17 James Pitcher, 18 Ben Thompson, 19 Isaac Millachip, 20 Tom Manaton.
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Fylde will check on one or two players who picked up knocks against Preston Grasshoppers before naming their line-up on Thursday evening after training.
Photo below: Tom Shard drops a goal in the 80th minute.
