Blast from the past

THIS was a fast and exciting game played in excellent spirits. Perhaps that was because it was not a league fixture and both sides felt at ease with the running game. It was a bit like a blast from the past - rugby union as it used to be.

Chorley lost, despite Richard Dempsey bagging his fourth try in four consecutive matches. The wingman went over for a glorious try in the second half which rounded off a good spell of play from the home side.

The Black and Whites led through two first half penalties from Sean Riches before the Barrow-based visitors struck Chorley with three tries just before the interval.

Chorley's pack were always competitive and it was their strong scrummages which led to a penalty try, converted by Riches just after half-time. That brought Chorley within one score of the North Lancastrians. But the visitors' half-backs combined well to seal the game for Furness with two incisive breaks before Dempsey got Chorley's consolation score.

Chorley play North Manchester in the league on Saturday at home. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

LYMM RUFC XV 26

CHORLEY 2ND XV 7

STEVE Richardson's second string travelled to Cheshire with many changes and some players playing out of position.

And in the first 20 minutes it showed. Lymm scored three tries and three conversions and led 21-0.

But the Black and Whites' pack showed its mettle. With Jeffrey, Humphries and Ingham anchoring the scrum, and Paul Massey, Stuart Thorpe and Alan Moore doing well in the loose, Chorley stemmed the home attacks. By half-time the visitors had the Cheshire outfit on the rack despite losing debut-making Tony Sweeney junior to injury.

Chorley pulverised the home-line but were unable to pierce the Lymm defence. Their try came after some good mauling and rucking in the home 22.

Lymm withstood the Chorley onslaught from then on and it was scant reward for Chorley when Lymm got their fourth try. Among the Chorley players to stand out were the returning John Sutton at fly-half and the "stand-in" number eight Phil Godwin who made some try-saving tackles Mervyn Davies style!

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