A STUNNING individual try from Steve Pilkington allowed Lymm to finish a memorable 2023 on a high note.

With Adam Fletcher’s men trailing Huddersfield – the National League Two North’s bottom side – 24-23 with around 10 minutes remaining, the centre received the ball inside his own 22 after his side had seen off a period of home pressure.

However, he raced through a gap in the hosts’ defence and found only open field and one defender between him and the try-line.

Pilkington had speedsters Nathan Beesley and Andy Williams in support but sold an outrageous dummy to run the ball in himself and complete a superb solo effort, with Tom Shard’s conversion taking them six points into the lead.

Watch Pilkington's stunning try below

Shard then notched a penalty to take the final score to 33-24, leaving them eighth in the table heading into the Christmas break having put together a three-match unbeaten run.

As such, Fletcher says his players are already anticipating their first fixture of 2024 – a home game against second-placed Rotherham Titans on Saturday, January 13.

“I thought the boys were excellent,” he said.

“The underfoot conditions made it difficult to play but we still managed to move the ball and create opportunities.

“Cal (Morris) and Tom (Shard) regularly put us in good positions and the forwards defended the maul superbly.

“We’re looking forward to the break but can’t wait until the league season restarts in the New Year.”

Lymm headed to West Yorkshire in the knowledge that Huddersfield’s sole victory this season came at Crouchley Lane in their second match of the campaign, but they made a fine start when a penalty put them deep inside the home 22, from where skipper James Yates burst through to touch down between the posts and leave Shard with a simple conversion.

Despite then defending three attacking lineouts superbly, however, the visitors could not stop Huddersfield from hitting back as winger Max Horsfall went over for an unconverted score before William Hammond then scored in the same corner to give the hosts a 10-7 lead.

Huddersfield’s momentum was stalled by a yellow card for second row Luke Pearson, and Lymm made good use of their numerical advantage as James Pitcher burrowed over for their second try, with Shard adding the conversion and a penalty to take Fletcher’s men seven points ahead.

Back came the hosts, though, and hooker Ethan Myers’ converted try sent the sides in at the break level at 17-17 but another yellow card – this time for flanker Lewis Quinn – helped Lymm back into the lead as Shard knocked over two penalties in quick succession.

Still, discipline was still proving an issue for the visitors and another penalty conceded helped Huddersfield set up position for Hammond to score his second try and secure a bonus point for the hosts, with the conversion taking them one point ahead.

That meant they looked set for a league double over their visitors, but Pilkington had other ideas before Shard completed a faultless afternoon from the kicking tee by taking his personal tally to 18 points.

Lymm: Ralph McEachran, James Pitcher, Matty Hand, Ben Thompson, James Yates, Joe Johnson, Harry Martin, Josh Hadland; Callum Morris, Tom Shard; Paddy Jennings, Steve Pilkington, James Kimber, Nathan Beesley, Jack Reynolds. Subs: Rob Makin, Jordan Widdrington, Gav Woods, Jake Ashall, Andy Williams