This week sees Wirral travel to their nearest League rivals, Lymm. The trip to Crouchley Lane is likely to be the last game there that Wirral will play on a grass pitch as a new 4G pitch is being laid but will not be ready until next month.
Lymm have started this season a much changed side from previously with a focus on youth and a few players stepping up to Seniors from their successful Colts set up. It is evident from their start to the season that their intent is to play in an open and expansive style not dissimilar from that played by Wirral, so this game should have plenty to entertain.
The home side have made the better start to the season, winning at home against league-newcomers Blackburn (24-19) and, in a game they could have won if it wasn't for a refereeing error late on, losing narrowly at Alnwick, 20-17. After only two games Lymm are 6th in the League with 6 points whereas Wirral are 11th with a solitary point.
Last seasons games saw Wirral victorious both home (19-11) and away. At Crouchley Lane this fixture was the first game after the Christmas break and the 23-34 win for the away side featured good performances from Chris Speed and Ryan Higginson along with an outstanding try scored by James Reeve. With Wirral dominant on the scoreboard there were two yellow cards late on that had the away side reduced to 13 men allowing Lymm back in a game that was more-or-less decided in the first 60 mins.
Lymm's games this season have demonstrated that, despite their introduction of some younger players, they can compete against even heavier more direct teams (Blackburn) and demonstrate plenty of attacking intent when carrying the ball. Notwithstanding the referees error at Alnwick poor tackling by Lymm gifted the home side some territory and coach Adam Fletcher will undoubtedly have had the home side working hard on their defence in training this week.
Wirral coach Simon Verbickas will be looking for an improvement from all of the players over the performance against Rossendale as individual errors and poor game management cost them dear last week.
Why not make Saturday rugby day ... come and watch the All Blacks against the Springboks at the Memorial Ground on the big screens (10:45 am k.o.), then pop over to Lymm and watch this game, returning to Wirral for Happy Hour (6.00-7.00pm)?