Northwich 23 Lymm 13

NORTHWICH moved up to fourth place in North West Two after a deserved home win over Lymm at Moss Farm.

The Blacks were pushed all the way by their counterparts from Crouchley Lane in a game that was marred by an injury to flanker Jamie Miritana that forced him to leave the field on a stretcher.

The visitors drew first blood on 20 minutes when winger Warren Ayres scored and converted a well-taken try.

This jolted the hosts into action and three minutes later Sam Naylor, selected in his preferred wing forward position, set up a break for Chris James who fed back to Naylor for a try under the posts. Matt Bebbington converted to level the scores.

The Blacks then took charge of proceedings when flying winger Joel Barber outpaced the Lymm defence to score in the left-hand corner with Bebbington again adding the extras.

Bebbington and Ayres then swapped penalties to make the half-time score 17-10 with the hosts looking comfortable.

An Ayres penalty brought Lymm within four shortly after the break and, following Miritana’s serious injury, Northwich were unsettled.

But the introduction of Nigel Farrow and Stacey Hosking off the bench steadied the Blacks ship and two penalties from Bebbington’s boot put the game beyond a brave Lymm outfit.

On Saturday, Northwich hope to take a step nearer Twickenham when they visit Wakefield-based Sandal in the EDF Intermediate Cup second round (2.15pm ko).

Sandal lie in fourth position in what is the eastern equivalent of Northwich’s league and will provide Kevin Greaves’ men with a stern test.

Supporters wishing to travel can contact Paul Taylor on 01606 783668.

Other scores: Northwich 2nds 10 Macclesfield 3rds 6 (try: Oultram; con: Thompson; pen: Thompson), Stockport Colts 20 Northwich Colts 17 (tries: Holt, Underhill, Turrell; cons: Devaney), Northwich U15s 0 Anselmians U15s 12.