On a day when they completely dominated the scrum, Hull were right in this game until just after half-time when they allowed Lymm to score three unanswered converted tries in a frantic 10-minute spell to take the game and the points away from the visitors.
Hull were disrupted by injuries during the game but a penalty count of 15 to Lymm’s eight as well as losing three lineouts to Lymm’s one and some poor handling conceded possession to the home side too often and made their task that much more difficult.
Lymm started well and after just three minutes they surged to the Hull line with their number eight Oli Higginson crashing over near the posts with his full-back Andy Rowley adding the conversion.
Just seven minutes later the same player added a penalty to his side’s tally to extend the lead to 10-0. Hull responded well with their winger Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz powering his over from 40 yards out with Fynlay Hobson converting well.
Hull then had a double injury blow when Hudson-Kowalewicz and number eight Adam Brankley had to leave the field with injuries. As Hull reorganised, Lymm stuck to their task and after 28 minutes they seized on a dropped ball and scored a try through their prop Thompson with Rowley converting.
To their credit, Hull bounced back and a well organised short line 25 yards out saw the ball recycled back to hooker Mike Jobling who went over for a try in the left hand corner after 32 minutes. Hobson’s touchline conversion got Hull right back in it just 15-14 in arrears.
Lymm back row forward Josh Hadland was then yellow carded for an offence during the build up to Hull’s try but it was 14-man Lymm who finished the half the stronger when they took full advantage of Hull’s indiscipline and scrum half Morris dummied his way over after a penalty award from short range with Rowley converting to see his side leading 22-14 at the break.
An early second half penalty for Hull by Hobson saw Hull just one score behind the home side, but then a 21-point burst by the home side blew away Hull’s chances of victory. Firstly Hadland bounced of tackles and drive over from 20 yards out after 49 minutes. Then winger Paddy Jennings scored two tries, one a dramatic interception try, in the 51st and 60th minutes all of which were converted.
Hull did reply in the 64th minute with a well worked try scored by Joey Barratt in the left hand corner. Hobson converting magnificently. However, Lymm achieved 50 points with a late try from back row Rhys Lilley converted by Andy Rowley after 78 minutes.
With Hull now playing for a bonus point, they fought their way to the Lymm line and had several penalty awards but their tap-and-go strategy rather than using their dominant scrum failed to get them the try they needed and they left without any points having played against a Lymm side restored to their best.
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