Swinton Lionesses 32 Hull Kingston Rovers 14
Alan Dixon at Heywood Road
Swinton Lionesses moved back into a play-off spot with a well-earned win over Hull KR. They must now hope that Cardiff beat Salford next week to secure their spot in the play-offs.
The Lionesses got off to a dream start with a try on their first possession of the ball. Jasmine Wilson broke through the Rovers defence to go on a 30-metre run before drawing the fullback and passing the ball to Eve Ashcroft who ran the final 30 metres to score under the posts. Eve Ashcroft converted to give the Lionesses a 6-0 lead. The Lionesses failed to regather the restart. Rovers moved the ball across the field to Madison Kendall who crashed over to score. Demi Thomas missed the conversion. Jade Smalley broke through the Lionesses defence in the 10th minute and went on a 30-metre run. She was stopped by a great double tackle by Eve Ashcroft and Libby Clarke. Abbie Singleton made a tremendous tackle on the line to stop them from scoring before Grace Pritchard diffused a high kick to end their possession of the ball. Rovers scored three minutes later when Demi Thomas cut through the defence to score. She converted her own try to put Rovers into the lead.
The Lionesses had a chance to score in the 21st minute. After a penalty for a ball steal, the ball was moved out wide but the final pass to Chloe Newbigging couldn’t be taken with a clear run to the line. It didn’t take long for the Lionesses to go back on the attack. Demi Fisher broke through the Rovers defence before passing the ball onto Jasmine Wilson who went on a 30-metre run before passing it onto Chloe Newbigging who went on a 20-metre run before being tackled short of the line. Abbie Singleton followed up her own kick through the Rovers defence to score. Eve Ashcroft was unable to convert. The Lionesses went straight back on the attack from the restart. Kerrie Evans and Grace Pritchard went on good runs to set up a neat chip over the top by Demi Fisher which Rovers recovered. Shannon Stephens broke through the Rovers defence and went on a 40-metre run but, she was unable to keep hold of the ball when she was tackled 15 metres from the line. The Lionesses scored again in the last minute of the half. They got the ball up to halfway before a smart over the top pass by Kim Seddon sent Grace Pritchard on a 52-metre run to score under the posts. Kim Seddon added the extras to give the Lionesses a 16-10 half time lead.
Rovers went on the attack at the start of the second half. They reduced the arrears in the 49th minute when Haylie Hields barged her way over to score. Demi Thomas couldn’t add the extras. The Lionesses almost scored 10 minutes later when Jasmine Wilson was tackled just short of the line. The ball was moved out to Izzy Glover who’s kick behind the defence forced Rover to kick the ball dead in goal. From the resulting drop out, the Lionesses pressurised the Rovers line. Abbie Singleton tried to burrow her way over from acting half before the ball was moved out to Demi Fisher whose ball around the back sent Jasmine Wilson in to score. Kim Seddon was unable to convert.
A powerful run by Shannon Stephens set up Kim Seddon but she was unable to keep hold of the ball as she broke through the Rovers defence and a clear run to the line. This didn’t deter the Lionesses. From their first scrum, Shannon Stephens picked up the ball from the loose forward position and broke through numerous Rovers tackle to run 22 metres to score under the posts. Kim Seddon added the extras. The Lionesses scored again in the last minute of the game. Grace Pritchard caught a Rovers high ball and passed it on to Morgan Pearson. From the play the ball, Grace Pritchard raced 50 metres to score under the posts. Kim Seddon added the conversion.
Teams.
Swinton Lionesses: Eve Ashcroft, Grace Pritchard, Kerrie Evans, Libby Clarke, Chloe Newbigging, Demi Fisher, Maddie Higson, Holly McDougall, Abbie Singleton, Georgia Briggs, Jasmine Wilson, Kim Seddon, Amelia Newton. Subs: Morgan Pearson, Shannon Stephens, Amelia Morton, Izzy Glover.
Tries: Ashcroft (2), Singleton (26), Pritchard (39,79), Wilson (60), Stephens (70)
Goals: Ashcroft 1, Seddon 3
Hull Kingston Rovers: Carla Dixon, Ruby Barnett, Madison Kendall, Chloe Holliday, Jessica Wilson-Ireland, Ebony Oaten-Powdrill, Ella Howe, Aaliyah Brewster, Haylie Hields, Jade Smalley, Demi Thomas, Sophie Banks, Abbie Kudla. Subs: Ruby Adkins, Hannah Byrom, Bethany Rushmer, Rachel Robertson.
Tries: Kendall (5), Thomas (13), Hields (49)
Goal: Thomas
Pens: 8-4 Half Time : 16-10 Referee : Shea Harrison
