After two successive, and successful games at the mothership the Reds 1st XV faces the longest journey of the season, a 650 mile round trip to face Lymm in Cheshire.

The boys travel clear at the top of the table after last weeks 38-14 win over visiting Hornets. It was a match that was pretty much wrapped up by half time when, in another mature performance, they put 31 unanswered points against the visitors. Things went off the boil a bit in the second half allowing Hornets to go home with the consolation of two converted tries.

Lymm currently sit in 6th place in the table following their 59-12 demolition last week at Taunton Titans. They have won four out of their six games so far against Loughborough Students, Devonport Services, Exeter University and Barnstaple.

Lymm have fallen victim to the RFU’s shaky grip on geography. They were promoted from Regional 1 North West into National League Two North at the end of the 2023/24 season but hardly had they got their feet under the table at that level when they found themselves level transferred to National League Two West in the RFU game of musical chairs that also took in Chester and Macclesfield. The latter sides’ refusal to be moved back in National Two West for this season has left Lymm in this league for the time being.

We first met Lymm last season when honours were shared. A home game that started in driving wind and rain saw Redruth dominate through our pack but drying conditions saw the visitors backs come to life and we held on to win that one 26-24. On a freezing January day in the North West, the home sides’ backs took command running in two late tries for a 36-31 victory in a game that, up to the final quarter, could have gone either way.

Lymm are a relatively new club, formed in 1959 as a drinking club when a group of players, fed up with the poor quality of beer in the local pub, discovered it was permissible to sell beer all day at a sports club. They then had to form a rugby side to justify the magistrates licence.

Fun fact: Lymm is in a very well-heeled part of what is one of the most well-heeled counties in England. It was once voted one of the best places to live in the country in a poll undertaken by The Times in 2017.

Referee: Nathan Howarth. Assistant Referees: Leo Burton-Adam Hughes.

Team news here on Friday