HIGHAM DOUBLE SECURES OPENING DAY WIN

SWINTON LIONS 16

WHITEHAVEN 10

IAN RIGG Heywood Road, Sunday

The Lions got their season off to a winning start, but it was all in the balance until two minutes from the end when Harry Higham capitalised on a Haven ball fumble to cross on the right. The home side started well and had a good chance in attack before Ellis Anderson broke down the left and fed the ball inside to the supporting Jordan Paga who raced in by the posts and Dan Abram converted. Haven came into it more after the opener and the strong wind was causing problems with the defenders as they tried to control the ball. A Lions handling error put the visitors in a good position, and they opened their account when Ethan Bickerdike crossed on the right, but Kieran Tyrer was unable to add the conversion. Both sides then had chances at the line but handing let them down in the difficult conditions. The Lions went back in the lead twelve minutes from the break when a superb, angled run by Harry Higham saw the centre cut inside to race in under the posts and Abram added the conversion. Paga almost claimed a second a few minutes later but this time the defence was good. The half finished with both sides again having good chances but this time defences were on top.

It was Haven who made the good start in the second half and went close in the opening minutes but a knock on stopped them scoring but they did capitalise in the end when Aaron Turnbull took a couple of defenders with him to score by the posts and Tyrer converted this one. The Lions then had a chance to go further ahead on fifty-five minutes when they got a penalty in front of the posts but decided to play the ball and then lost it in the second tackle allowing Haven to clear the line. Jack Newbigin made a good break for the visitors a minute later but good defence from the Lions held him out. They then bombed a try on the left when Jordan Burns lost control of the ball going for the corner. The game could have gone either way and the defences were being tested but holding out well. One high kick by Haven caused major problems for the Lions defence as it was swirling and bouncing all over the place but in the end, Abram got it under control and cleared his line. Lions substitute Trent Kelly-Duffy almost scored with his first touch with six minutes left but was grounded just short of the line. The match winner for the Lions came with just under two minutes left when Abram put a high ball towards the line, and it was fumbled by a Haven defender and Higham was first to react to collect the ball and dive over on the right, but Abram was unable to convert, and the defences held out for the dying seconds.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

1 Louie Roberts

2 Ellis Anderson

5 Harry Higham

22 Aaron Lynch

25 Frank Sergent

14 Jordan Paga

19 Dan Abram

8 Adam Sidlow

21 Ben Hartill

33 Alfie Sinclair