Blown Away in the First Half!

There was a strong blustery wind when we arrived at Lymm and this would have an impact on the game.

The Under 16's kicked off into the wind and immediately it didn't go 10 meters, scrum down Lymm ball and the pressure began. Lymm are a quality side and this showed with ball in hand. The lads were working in hard in defence and the lads were holding firm, but slowly Lymm were working their way up the pitch!

Eventually after 5-10 minutes of full on defence, Lymm crossed the line. A great conversion in the wind and they were 7-0 up.

This theme was continued through the first half, Lymm working the ball well and playing the conditions. I'm not sure what it was, but we just didn't look comfortable with ball in hand. Defence was pretty good and tackling was ok, but we just couldn't keep them out.

HT 30-0! So I'm told, technology let me down today.

A half time team talk from the coaches about how we weren't playing our discussed game plan. We knew from last season that Lymm's strength was in their back line. We had strategy for this, but didn't execute in the first half. Our forwards had done well in the set piece in the first half, so we needed to work more on this in the second half.

Lymm kicked off and immediately applied the pressure again, and crossed the line again! Things were't looking great. 35-0

However this team has a never give up attitude, i'm not sure whether a light was switched on. But slowly we started to retain possession and the forwards working hard driving forward, sucking Lymm defenders in. The ball was then passed out to the backs and a great run from Thomas Shallcross saw him cross the line, conversion bouncing off the cross bar. 35-5

Again Lymm came back and scored two unconverted tries, 45-5.

Again the black and whites played to the game plan, a big effort from the forwards and again out to the backs and Thomas Shallcross scored his second of the day, Calum Meakin adding the extras. 45-12

The under 16's were really stepping it up now, Gabe Machin was unlucky not to get a try, when the Lymm full back had a wobble behind his own try line.

The scrum had been going well all day and Lymm were struggling in their set piece play, again the Crewe forwards drove forward time and again, pulling in the Lymm defence. The ball then given out to the backs and some strong running from Jake Threadgold cutting through some poor Lymm tackling and scoring in the corner, conversion successful. 45-19

That was pretty much it. We won the second half 15-19, so it was there for the taking.

We came up against probably one of the best teams in the county, however an opportunity missed, if we had played the game plan discussed in the first half I'm sure the score could have been a lot closer.

We wish Lymm well in the Cup and we await our opponents in the Plate competition.