Oldham   0       Manchester Swinton Lionesses   40

Alan Dixon at Netpar Training Facilities

John Whalley rang the changes for this friendly game against Oldham. Some players were rested as he tried to give all the squad a run out.

It only took two minutes for the Lionesses to score. After attacking from deep, Eve Ashcroft chipped the ball over the top of the Oldham defence. Leila D’Symonds re-gathered the ball and took three tackles over the line with her to score in the corner. Maddie Higson was unable to convert. They scored again four minutes later. Oldham knocked the ball on coming out of defence. From the scrum, Olivia Harborow passed the ball out to Eve Ashcroft who drew in the defence before passing the ball out to Sydney Alderman-Smith who scored in the corner. Again the conversion was missed. Four minutes later the Lionesses were awarded a penalty near the Oldham line. The Lionesses attacked out on the right hand side before switching it back to the left. The ball found its way to Eve Ashcroft who drew in the defence before slipping the ball out to Grace Arrowsmith to score. The conversion attempt was missed. They scored again on their next attack. After a kick through on the last tackle, Sinead Fletcher re-gathered  the ball but good defence by Amelia Morton, Grace Arrowsmith and Maddie Higson forced her into touch. From the restart, the ball was moved across the field to Eve Ashcroft whose pass out to Chloe Newbigging sent her in at the corner. Again the conversion was missed. Five minutes later they were in again. Oldham knocked on coming out of defence. From the scrum, the ball was moved out to Amber Harmon who was tackled short of the line. Olivia Harborow tried to dive over from dummy half but was tackled short. The ball went out to Tiegan Shaw who was tackled short. This time Olivia Harborow went over from dummy half to score. Maddie Higson added the extras.

They scored again in the 24th minute. A good run by Eve Ashcroft ended with her being tackled short of the line. The ball was moved across the field to Grace Arrowsmith who drew in the defence before sending Amelia Morton in at the corner. The conversion attempt was missed. Good runs by Grace Arrowsmith and Amber Harmon gave the Lionesses good field position near the Oldham line. The ball was moved out to Grace King who broke through the Oldham defence to score. Again the conversion was missed. Four minutes later, Oldham went on the attack. A pass out to the winger was intercepted by Chloe Newbigging who ran 40 metres before being tackled. A quick play the ball allowed Sydney Alderman-Smith to go on a 20 metre run to score under the posts. Maddie Higson kicked the conversion. The Lionesses went straight back downfield but Chloe Newbigging was penalised for a double movement as she reached out to score.

The Lionesses kicked off to start the second half. Good defence forced Oldham to drop out from under their own posts. The Lionesses knocked on from the restart. Oldham lost the ball trying to clear their own line. This put the Lionesses back on the attack with Georgia Briggs being tackled short of the line. The ball was moved out to Maddie Higson who ran across the front of the Oldham defence before going through a gap to score. Emma Welsford was unable to convert.

At this point, the referee decided to call a end to the game due to the number of injuries that Oldham were picking up.

Teams :

Oldham : Megan Hobin, Sinead Fletcher, Ashleigh Hoyle, Megan Farnhill, Rosie Moorcroft, Holly Coburn, Faye Leddy, Darcey Price, Kadie Ashworth, Laura Thorley, Ella Wheeler, Emma Simpson, Katie Stephens. Subs : Nicola Robinson, Rhys Morgan, Ellie Armstrong, Jaymie Hampson-Phow, Ann-Marie Challoner, Kassie Maher.

Manchester Swinton Lionesses : Eve Ashcroft, Chloe Newbigging, Kerrie Evans, Grace Arrowsmith, Sydney Alderman-Smith, Leila D’Symonds, Maddie Higson, Kelly Morgan, Olivia Harborow, Yasmin Parton Sotomayor, Grace King, Amber Harmon, Amelia Newton. Subs : Tamika Bull, Georgia Lake, Georgia Briggs, Morgan Pearson, Emma Welsford, Tiegan Shaw, Amelia Morton, Holly McDougall.

Tries : D’Symonds (2), Alderman-Smith (6,34), Arrowsmith (10), Newbigging (14), Harborow (19), Morton (24), King (30), Higson (43)

Goals : Higson 2

Pens : 0-2                  Half Time : 0-36