RL CONFERENCE - NORTH WEST PREMIER DIVISION

LYMM RL 29 WIDNES SAINTS 28 - 25/07/09

Lymm RL were crowned Minor Premiership winners with a game to spare in the North West Premier Division after a nail-bighting one point victory over near neighbours Widnes Saints, who had led the League standings on points difference going into the contest.

With many permutations possible for who would finish top in the regular season, Lymm were clear on one thing, a victory would see them head back to the top and claim the title even before playing the final league game at Blackpool.

The success has come just two years into the existence of the League team at Lymm sports club with the side now hoping to maintain their form moving into the play-off series which dictates the overall regional winner and offers the club the opportunity to play on a national stage.

In a very physical encounter Widnes opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a converted try before Lymm responded via James Dudley. From here on in both teams exchanged scores at regular intervals with other Lymm tries from Pete Cannon and two from the powerful Mick Cadd with Pete Leonard on top form with the boot, scoring six goals from six attempts.

Crucially Leonard went onto land two second-half penalties to punish the Saints indiscipline before coolly slotting home a long range field-goal with the sides locked at 28 apiece, leaving Lymm to frantically defend a one-point lead in the later stages of the game in order to take the well deserved title.

Lymm finish their regular season with an away day trip to Blackpool on Saturday and are then likely to face Wigan at home in a semi-final play-off on Friday week, for the right to tackle Widnes (again) or New Broughton in the Grand Final on August 15th.

Lymm: Tom Mahoney, Frankie Bird, Matt Mahoney, Neil Evans, Mark Fitton, Paul Flannery, Pete Leonard, Nat Ashurst, Tim Stuart, Mick Cadd, Mike Ward, James Dudley, Pete Cannon. Subs: Paul Bagley, Richie Bancroft, Craig Millington, Zak Lythgoe.

Tries: Duldey, Cannon, Cadd (2)
Goals: Leonard (6)
FG: Leonard