RL CONFERENCE - NORTH WEST PREMIER DIVISION

WIGAN RIVERSIDERS 56 LYMM RL 12 - 25/04/09

Lymm began life in the newly named North West Premier Division with a poor opening performance at new boys Wigan Riversiders.

In a scene reminiscent to the one twelve months earlier, Lymm flattered to deceive and were on the wrong end of a heavy scoreline against the well prepared Wigan team who took their strong displays in three pre-season victories into the game.

For Lymm it was their first fixture in some eight months following the end of the 2008 summer season, with many of the squad returning to rugby league action after a long lay-off and six players from the seventeen making their debut.

However decked out in their new playing strip it was Lymm who started quite well as Pete Cannon shrugged off the Wigan cover to go in out wide for an unconverted try.

However in an error strewn first-half Lymm invited pressure upon themselves as Wigan went over for two quick fire tries including one from ex player Craig Middlemore who raced the length of the field to score following an interception after Lymm had come within inches of touching down via hooker Tim Stuart.

The half didn't get any better and with the Wigan goal kicker on top form, the home side raced into a commanding interval lead.

Lymm threatened a fight back in the second-half as Craig Woolvine crossed early but it was only a temporary rest bite as more errors gave Wigan the platform to continue their dominance meaning that Neil Evans' late effort was only mere consolation.

Lymm: Tom Mahoney, Rudd, Evans, Fisher, Hopwood, Cannon, Leonard, Nat Ashurst, Stuart, Bates, Ward, Austin, Flannery. Subs: Woolvine, Bancroft, Stevenson, Bagley

Tries: Cannon, Woolvine, Evans

NWP Results: Widnes Saints 48 Blackpool Sea Eagles 8

Photos courtesy of Neil Ashurst (PandB Pictures)