LYMM head into a run of three league games against sides in the bottom half of the table with a bit of confidence having been gained from a narrow loss at third-placed Sheffield.

It was only 10 minutes from time that the Yorkshire outfit managed to pull out a winning lead against Lymm at the weekend, finally running out 28-24 victors.

Lymm belied their league position and battled to the very end, earning a deserved losing bonus point in a game they could have won.

The Beechwood boys will host Otley on Saturday feeling that they deserved more from their trip to the steel city, where they took the lead three times.

Otley currently occupy two points and sit two places higher than Lymm in National League 2 North and were 45-34 winners when they entertained Lymm in October.

“It was a really good performance that I believe deserved more than one bonus point,” said Lymm director of rugby Adam Fletcher of his team’s performance against Sheffield.

“Our attack looked really sharp and we scored some good tries. I loved the way we went about defending, we had great line speed and stopped them well at source.

“The effort and commitment to our cause was pleasing and what you expect. But we let Sheffield off the hook several times with a few basic skill errors and that’s the key difference at this level. I’m looking forward to this week.”

Having lost their three previous games, Lymm faced a tough challenge but were boosted by the return to the starting XV of Ralph McEachran and Jack Reynolds.

Lymm started well with good ball retention and pressurised the hosts into their 22.

But errors and a scrum penalty kick into the Lymm half allowed the hosts to set up a 25m rolling maul. Lymm defended it very well taking them into touch and from the lineout throw Lymm’s backs showed their pace and skill.

Quick hands took the ball to winger Nathan Beesley, who broke through the home line making 40 metres.

Centre Steve Pilkington was in support to take the pass before offloading to scrum half Callum Morris to dive over for the opening try, with Tom Shard adding the extras.

The hosts had a physical set piece advantage, particularly in the lineout.

Tactical kicking from penalties against Lymm, brought them into the Lymm 22 and after three limeouts on the left, their hooker, Rhodri Campbell, was bundled over from a rolling maul. Elliot Fisher converted.

Lymm’s open-side flanker Harry Martin was putting in some crunching tackles and gained a scrum from a dislodged ball.

The Lymm scrum was holding its own against the bigger Sheffield pack and they were awarded a scrum penalty.

Shard’s kick gained them a lineout just inside the home 22, which they won and gained a second penalty for offside in front of the posts.

They turned down an easy three points and opted for a kick to touch again.

A clean lineout take from skipper James Yates was popped down to prop McEachran.

The ball was recycled speedily from the breakdown and swiftly moved to Shard who linked with full-back Reynolds to spin out of a defender’s tackle and touch down after 25 minutes. Shard converted.

Sheffield now stepped up their game and eventually scored a converted try with 33 minutes on the clock.

From a scrum in the Lymm 22, Fisher gave a quick ball to William Smith who crossed, with Fisher’s conversion making it 14 -14 for half time.

Lymm changed their props with Matty Hand and McEachran being replaced by Gav Woods and Jordan Widdrington.

From the restart, Lymm were back on the attack with a great break by the outstanding Martin.

The play continued through multiple phases with eventually Martin being held up just short of the line, and Lymm being awarded a penalty, which Shard converted.

Lymm’s lineout was under pressure throughout the game with Sheffield having height advantage at the front and middle of the line.

Eventually after 60 minutes, the hosts took the lead from a red-zone lineout, when Ryan Burrows powered over on the blindside with Fisher converting.

Lymm again reverted to their starting props of Hand and McEachran, and James Pitcher came on as hooker for Rob Makin.

Then on 70 minutes Campbell scored a bonus-point try for Sheffield with Fisher converting but Lymm were still very much in the game.

With four minutes left on the clock, Lymm got their deserved losing bonus point.

Cal Morris broke from a Lymm scrum and linked with Josh Hadland who finished off, with Shard converting.

Lymm: Ralph McEachran, Rob Makin, Matty Hand, Ben Thompson, James Yates, Josh Hadland, Harry Martin, Rhys Lilly, Callum Morris, Tom Shard, Paddy Jennings, James Kimber, Steve Pilkington, Nathan Beasley, Jack Reynolds, Gav Woods, Jordan Widdrington, James Pitcher, Alfie Simpson, Andy Williams.