THEY may have lost Tom Shard to a serious shoulder injury before the break, but Lymm’s second-half display at Ilkley displayed all the qualities head coach Adam Fletcher would have been looking for.

Scrum-half Shard went down on the half-hour mark and Lymm went into the interval 8-6 down and having to get themselves accustomed to a complex reshuffle having started with no replacement back on the bench.

However, the response Fletcher got was stellar as Cormac Nolan, Nathan Beesley and Joe Senior scored tries in a 15-30 victory.

Nolan, who had to move from full-back to scrum-half, added three conversions and three penalties and although Lymm fell just short of a bonus point, Fletcher was delighted nonetheless.

“I’m really happy with the win but even happier about how we played in the second half.

“Our defence and energy were outstanding and we were clinical.

“The only downside is the injury to Tom Shard, who went to hospital after having his shoulder put back in place.”

Lymm – now sixth in the Northern Premier after back-to-back wins – welcome eighth-place Kirkby Lonsdale to Beechwood on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Lymm: Gav Woods, James Pitcher, Matty Hand, Will Baldwin, Aaron Rasheed, Adam Bray, James Lewis, Ollie Higginson; Tom Shard, Tom Bray; Joe Senior, James Kimber, Ben Stansfield, Nathan Beesley, Cormac Nolan. Subs: Nick Ashton, Cash Chilvers, Matty Connolly

Meanwhile, Lymm’s seconds showed no signs of ring rust as they beat Macclesfield 37-31 in their first game for three weeks.

In what was their first game on Beechwood’s new artificial surface, Rhys Jones and Alex Hickman tries had put Lymm in control before the visitors hit a purple patch.

Three tries in quick succession saw Macclesfield lead 26-15 going into half time, but Lymm emerged for the second half at a faster pace.

James Yates’ try and Jones’ penalty reduced the gap to one point before Hickman’s second score gave the hosts a lead they would never relinquish.

Joe Watson’s try in the corner rounded off Lymm’s scoring as they held on despite a late consolation from the visitors.

Lymm: Dave Coon, Josh Hadland, John Grant, James Yates, Henry Baldwin, Joe Long, Sam Dickenson, Joe Watson; George Anderson, Rhys Jones; Jorge Reynolds, Richard McEvoy, Rory Riddell, James Hamer, Alex Hickman. Subs: Joe Dowdswell, Kieran Soni, Chris Barrett, J Heaton