LIONS SIGN OUT WITH VICTORY – Swinton Lions RLFC

SWINTON LIONS 18

ROCHDALE HORNETS 12

IAN RIGG Heywood Road Sunday

The Lions rounded off their home campaign with a hard-fought victory over local rivals Rochdale Hornets in front of the cameras and a large crowd. Early pressure from the visitors with former Lion Lewis Else pulling the strings in attack but great defence from the Lions was holding them out. It was the Lions who scored the opener and what a good try with Reece Briers setting it off sending Trent Kelly-Duffy through a nice gap to race clear and draw Greg McNally towards the tackle before offloading to Jonny Openshaw who raced in to score by the posts, but there was no conversion from Jack Stevens. Martyn Ridyard then put in a nice kick for the line, but Briers brought it clear before handing on the Rodden who broke down the wing before feeding Frank Sergent and he was tackled just short. Good chances midway through the half for both sides but the rock defence was doing well. Luke Forber then had a chance on the left for Hornets, but the ball ran away from him at the kick. The Lions went further ahead on twenty-six minutes when Rodden broke free on the left took on McNally and beat him for speed and raced away to score on the left, but Stevens again missed the conversion. Stevens though did stretch the lead on thirty-three minutes when he kicked a penalty for a high tackle. More Hornets pressure on the line before the break and more great scramble defence before Stevens landed a penalty just before the hooter for an off the ball tackle,

Again, Hornets pressed the line in the opening minutes of the half and Sergent did well to clear his line just getting the ball back in the field of play. This actually was the start of the next Lions try when Rodden again got the ball on the left and fed a nice inside pass for Sergent to race away and score on the left but the conversion from Stevens hit the posts and bounced out. Forber put Hornets on the board on fifty-two minutes when he took a long pass to score in the left corner and Ridyard converted to put them right back in the fight. Briers then landed a penalty goal on fifty-six minutes for offside. Hornets hit back again on sixty-six minutes when Ridyard sent a nice kick towards the posts and Dylan Kelly-Duffy dived on the loose ball to score and Ridyard converted from in front. It was all go in the final ten minutes with both sides giving it all. Firstly, Aaron Lynch gave away a penalty in his own twenty for obstruction and Jayden Hatton intercepted a pass near his own line but got tackled, Briers tried a drop goa seven minutes from time, but it sailed wide and in the final minute Else knocked on in the Lions ten.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

1 Louie Roberts

25 Frank Sergent

22 Aaron Lynch

4 Jayden Hatton

5 Harry Higham

7 Reece Briers

6 Jack Stevens

10 Bobby Shingler

24 Jonny Openshaw

20 Jamie Reddecliff