Lymm 29 West Park 10 WITH nothing at stake this friendly fixture at Lymm's Crouchley Lane should have been an opportunity for a relaxed display of open rugby and the chance to blood new players in the first team.

But an indifferent display by some of the experienced members of the senior squad gave little encouragement to the newcomers and resulted in Park's heaviest defeat of the season.

Dominating possession for the first 30 minutes, Lymm went ahead with a penalty and a converted try but in what was Park's first real attack a pick up at a set scrum by number eight Rob Hanson sent winger Paul Bailey in for a try. Neil Houghton converted and also added a penalty to level the scores at 10-10 which would have been an encouraging half time score except for a defensive disaster right on the half time whistle which gifted a converted try to Lymm.

A forward try after half time brought Lymm another try which was converted as Park failed frequently to turn good positions into points.

Park brought youngster Ben Rose and experienced Steve Bibby on for the last 10 minutes and things improved a little, Lymm only adding to their score with an unconverted try by the home scrum-half who scampered through an indifferent Park defence in the last minute.

On the credit side scrum-half Ian Pearce looked sharp after a three match absence and youngster Pete Osborne came through his debut with credit. Park will need to recover their composure for next weeks league game at third place Caldy.

Other scores: West Park 2nd 49 Lymm 2nd 3; Liverpool St Helens 3rd 5 West Park 3rd 28; West Park 4th 5 Lymm Vets 52.

Aldwinians under 13s nil West Park 78.

Park under 14s and 16s competed in a nationwide competition in Scotland last weekend, the under 16s going out in the quarter finals 8-5 to Hinckley who themselves were defeated by Newcastle Gosforth in the final at Murrayfield.

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