Lymm Rugby Club post-match beam balance celebration tradition

And no, it isn’t gymnastics gone very wrong!

It is a post-match celebration at Lymm Rugby Club – and has been since its foundation in 1960.

The ritual involves rival man-of-the-match players climbing onto the beam in the main clubroom briefed with the challenge of seeing who can down a pint-in-one the fastest.

It is also a tradition to mark birthdays, hat-trick scorers, debut appearances and more in the same way.

On this occasion, tight-head prop forward David Coon, on the right, man of the match in the Lymm Eagles third team win on Saturday, is up against his counterpart from the Manchester Village Spartans.

Bruises, aching limbs and even the consumed post-match food had to be overcome before the beam battle commenced.

No safety net is used, but we’re told not to worry because everybody is carefully helped down afterwards.

It is considered at Lymm that the framework of all good sports clubs is maintaining their culture and traditions and passing them on generation to generation.

Japan under 20s players who were hosted by Lymm during the Under 20s World Cup held in Manchester trying out the beam at the end of their stay with Lymm (Image: Contributed)

This and others are very evident at Lymm and it is felt they contribute to player loyalty and success on the field.

The third team certainly enjoyed success on Saturday, as they defeated the visiting Spartans 80-5.

With the first team not in action and the seconds winning 37-15 at Sandbach, the Eagles grasped the opportunity to shine on centre stage at Crouchley Lane.

* Do you have post-match rituals to tell us about at your club? Email the details and a picture to mike.parsons@nqnw.co.uk