Huddersfield YMCA had to show their resilience as they won away at Lymm 31-27 in National III North.

With only the slenderest of margins between the teams going into the game, with YMCA eighth and Lymm ninth, it was always going to be a well contested affair.

First on the attack were YMCA only to turn over the ball allowing a break by Lymm’s backs resulting in a touchdown from centre Jamie Ecclestone.

Winger Cormac Nolan added the conversion to give his side an early seven point lead.

YMCA hit back and started to throw the ball about, however a flat pass allowed Lymm to get their hands on the ball and from a kick Lymm full-back Joe Knowles went in for the home side’s second try which was added to by a Nolan goal.

The visitors came back on the attack and an excellent break by Jack Housley saw the big second row slice through the defence and give out a slick pass into the arms of the supporting Mark Whitehead, and the player-coach gave the pass out to scrum half Simon Wilson to score.

Gavin Stead was just wide with the conversion but at least YMCA had stopped the rot.

Shortly after the restart Lymms hooker Bray was yellow carded for a high tackle, after the referee had already issued Lymm with a warning to keep the tackles low.

The visiting forwards took full advantage, when at the next scrum they took the ball against the head to set up a quick attack which saw Barber break the line before off-loading to the ever present Sam Hodge to romp in under the posts – leaving Stead the easiest of conversions.

Lymm managed to ease the pressure a few minutes later with a well struck penalty by Nolan from just inside the YM half after the visitors had been adjudged high in the tackle to make the score 17-12 to the home side.

YMCA’s Sam Fletcher set up the next score when he collected a kick out of defence and made ground before passing to Adam Ryder, leaving the big centre with work to do but all the tools to do it with, as he steamed through the remaining defenders to score and Stead added an easy conversion.

In the lead for the first time YMCA piled on the pressure and after being awarded a penalty they elected to kick for the corner to get a throw-in advantage to set up a maul.

Everything went according to plan with a clean take by Housley allowing the forwards to get momentum and trundle towards the Lymm line.

The home side lost discipline and prevented the maul going forward by coming in at the side, and the referee was quick to blow his whistle and Lymm’s back rower Sam Mullarkey was sent to the sin-bin.

The alert James Bell took a quick tap penalty and he forced himself over the line for another YMCA score, but the conversion was missed.

In the second half the home side went on the attack and put YMCA under pressure.

Poor decision making and the lack of a kicking game led to the YMCA being turned over as they tried to run out of their own ‘22’ and the ball was sent along the Lymm line to Ecclestone, who took on the defence to score.

Nolan’s conversion brought the scores level and both teams had opportunities to score but were thwarted by strong defence or unforced errors.

The deadlock was broken when YMCA were caught offside and Nolan duly slotted the resulting penalty to put his side back into the lead.

The game continued to ebb and flow with neither side able to land the killer blow and with the clock ticking down it looked as though Lymm might hang on for the win.

However, things conspired against them and during the course of a YM attack the ball went loose and was hacked on towards the Lymm line.

The defence looked to have it covered as it rolled over the line but instead of being touched down the ball squirted out from under the defenders body and into open space where YM’s Sam Hodge was on hand to drop on it and claim the score.

Stead added the extra points from the conversion to take the score to 27-31.

With not much time left on the clock Lymm came back onto the attack and were awarded a penalty just outside the YM 22.

The kick to goal was no good to them and them sensible option seemed to be the kick for touch to set up a catch a drive.

This option was ignored and the home side went for a tap and ran at the heart of the YM defence which held firm until an error by Lymm resulted in a YM scrum, which effectively heralded full-time.

YMCA: Fletcher, Stead, Bentley, Barber, Ryder, Clarke, Wilson, Dyke, Hill, Moore, Housley, Bell, Whitehead, Hodge, Lumb. Interchange: Watson, Robertson, Murphy.