LYMM twice held leads at Hull on Saturday but were unable to complete the job, with the tide being turned by a spectacular try from former England rugby league international Jamie Shaul.

They raced out to a commanding 17-0 lead, were hauled back in, but got themselves in front again.

Shaul, a Challenge Cup winner with Hull FC against Warrington Wolves in 2016, delivered his game-changing moment before Hull established what proved to be their winning lead in the 70th minute.

Lymm threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Humbersiders in the closing stages but fell 34-27 to a bonus-point defeat.

Adam Fletcher, Lymm director of rugby, said: “I was really happy with how we started the game.

“To be 17-0 up after 20 minutes was a fair reflection of how dominant we were in that period.

“Unfortunately, the next 20 minutes was all Hull and they utilised their power game well.

“We got ourselves back in front with 20 minutes to go but just couldn’t see the game out.

“Overall, we are satisfied with the two points gained.”

Lymm, who host National League 2 North table-toppers Leeds Tykes at Beechwood on Saturday, kick-off 3pm, headed to East Riding four places and four points behind their hosts and so a close encounter was promised.

Few would have anticipated the rapid-fire start made by Lymm, who were ahead after only 50 seconds.

The Hull fly-half tried to clear from the kick-off but his kick was charged down by centre and captain James Kimber who fly-kicked the ball on and won the chase to touch down.

Tom Shard’s conversion attempt hit the post and two minutes later his penalty attempt from 40 metres was also missed.

Lymm did stretch their led though when full-back Jack Reynolds was put into space in a flowing backs move. He released centre, birthday boy Ste Pilkington on his 50th appearance, for Lymm’s second try with Shard improving.

Warrington Guardian: Ste Pilkington scores his try for Lymm at HullSte Pilkington scores his try for Lymm at Hull (Image: Tim Martin)

Another flowing and subtle backs move then released right winger Andy Williams, who had joined the line on the left, for a third try and Shard hit the post again with his conversion attempt.

Hull then seemed to wake from their giant slumber and three tries, two of which were improved, got them back to level par for the turnaround.

A penalty to Lymm five metres from the posts was converted by Shard after 49 minutes.

Little errors crept into Lymm’s execution and this gave Hull some breathing space and they levelled again with a penalty.

Hull just missed another penalty by hitting the post and then scrum-half Cal Morris intercepted a wayward pass and sprinted 50 metres to the sticks for Shard to easily convert and make it 27-20 after 57 minutes, also meaning the four-try bonus point was in the bag.

Then came the magic by 31-year-old Shaul, the speedy Hull full-back beating three defenders on a kick return to score a converted try.

Hull went for the kill and touched down the winning effort from a rolling maul.

Lymm (1-15): Ralph McEachran, James Pitcher, Matty Hand, Rhys Lilly, Ben Thompson, Sean Callender, Joe Johnson, Harry Martin, Cal Morris, Tom Shard, Paddy Jennings, James Kimber, Ste Pilkington, Andy Williams, Jack Reynolds. Reserves: Nick Ashton, Gav Woods, James Yates, Nathan Beesley, Andy Rowley.