FAX DEFEAT LIONS AS KEY DUO INJURED

18 June 2018

Swinton Lions were put to the sword by Halifax in the Betfred Championship after losing key players George Tyson and Chris Hankinson to injuries either side of the break.

Swinton Lions 4-46 Halifax

Halifax returned to winning ways with what turned out be a runaway victory in the end against the Lions, who suffered two massive injury blows losing both centres Chris Hankinson and George Tyson with both players ending up in hospital.

Hankinson took a knock to the head and had a huge lump appear just before the break and Tyson was injured in a tackle in the opening four minutes of the second half, which lead to a sixteen minute stoppage while he received treatment from both club doctors and paramedics on the field. He was given oxygen before being stretchered off and taken away by ambulance for checks.

It was a good start by both sides as defences were on top but Chester Butler opened the scoring on thirteen minutes when he scored by the posts and Steve Tyrer converted. The Lions hit back quickly when a good passing movement saw Mike Butt score in the corner but Hankinson could not convert.

Kieran Moss then linked in well on the left to put the visitors back in the lead and again the conversion was good. Andy Bracek then went close for the Lions after good play by Butt and Craig Mullen but just lost the ball and the chance went.

Halifax then came back with three tries in the final eight minutes of the half with Moss going over after good play by Ed Barber. Next came Ben Johnston who scooted over after a break down the right and on the half time hooter Dan Fleming crashed over and all three were converted by Tyrer to give his side a healthy lead at the break.

The Lions had it all to do in the second half and they started well until the injury to Tyson and after that players had to play out of position, which disrupted things a little but they gave their all to get back in the game. Both sets of fans gave the Lions player a standing ovation as he left the field, as up to that point he was causing all sorts of problems for the Halifax defence.

Tyrer added the next Halifax try in the forty-sixth minute after a good passing movement down the left but couldn’t manage to score his own conversion. Scott Murrell added another when he strode through a huge gap by the posts and Tyrer converted this one before Johnston scored his second after a break by Ben Heaton down the left and again the conversion was good.

Both sides had chances in the final ten minutes with Will Sharp and Adam Tangata going close for Halifax and Mullen made a break for the Lions only to lose the ball in the final ten, but it was a good day for Richard Marshall’s men and their large band of supporters.

Ian Rigg reporting from Heywood Road

MATCH FACTS

LIONS: 30. Craig Mullen, 5. Mike Butt, 3. Chris Hankinson, 4. George Tyson, 1. Gabriel Fell, 6. Brad Billsborough, 7. Jack Hansen, 8. Andy Bracek, NN. Josh Ganson, 15. Ben Austin, 11. Rhodri Lloyd, 10. Andy Thornley, 25. Will Hope

SUBS: (All Used): 24. Aaron Hall, 14. Hayden Hansen, 33. Levy Nzoungou, 17. Kyle Shelford

Try: Butt (19)   Goal: Hankinson 0/1

HALIFAX: 24. Kieran Moss, 4. Ed Barber, 3. Stephen Tyrer, 2. Ben Heaton, 1. Will Sharpe, 6. Scott Murrell, 7. Ben Johnston, 17. Will Maher, 9. Ben Kaye, 13. Jacob Fairbank, 18. Chester Butler, 11. Shane Grady, 12. Simon Grix

SUBS: (All Used): 8. Elliot Morris, 14. Brandon Moore, 29. Dan Fleming, 10. Adam Tangata

Tries: Butler (13), Moss (27,32), Johnston (37,58), Fleming (40), Tyrer (46), Murrell (54)   Goals: Tyrer 7/8

On Report: Tackle on Tyson (44).

Penalty Count: 10-7   Half Time: 4-30   Referee: Marcus Griffiths   Att: 953