Swinton Lions Wheelchair    40        Salford Wheelchair    46

Alan Dixon at Beactive, Urmston

It was another historic day for the Lions wheelchair team as they took to the field for their first ever home league game. And what a game it was against derby rivals Salford.

Salford went on the attack straight from the kick off. Oliver Waite drove the ball up to mid field. The ball was moved out to Mark Riley who put Connor Murray-Haycock in at the corner. Mark Riley missed the conversion. Charlie Gordon recovered a Salford kick four minutes later and sent Robin Cronshaw  away on a run into the Salford half. Quick hands by Andy Unwin and Dan Robinson allowed Jordan Parker to send Charlie Gordon away on a run down the wing to score. Dan Robinson converted. Salford recovered the restart. The ball was moved out to Connor Murray-Haycock who crashed through the Lions defence to score. Mark Riley converted. It was now the Lions turn to recover the restart. Jordan Parker and Andy Unwin took the ball up to the Salford line. The ball was moved out to Robin Cronshaw who scored under the posts. Dan Robinson converted. Salford went back on the attack. Mark Riley lost control of the ball whilst trying to score. The Lions moved the ball out to Robin Cronshaw who raced down the wing before being tackled short of the line. The ball was moved across to Dan Robinson who put Jordan Parker through a gap to score. Dan Robinson added the extras.

Dan Robinson recovered the ball from a Salford knock on. The ball was passed to Charlie Gordon who went across the field before going around the outside of the Salford defence. The ball was moved to Andy Unwin who was tackled short of the line. The ball was moved out wide to Robin Cronshaw who went over in the corner but, he was deemed to have been tackled short of the line.  The ball was moved into the middle where Dan Robinson sent Jordan Parker through a gap to score. Again the officials deemed him to have been tackled before scoring. Salford went back on the attack but were pulled up for a forward pass. Swinton moved the ball out to Robin Cronshaw who went on a run down the wing. The ball was moved inside to Jordan Parker to score.  Dan Robinson converted to give the Lions a 24-10 lead. Salford recovered the restart. Jess Booth passed the ball to Mark Riley who went through a gap to score. Dave Abel converted. The Lions conceded a penalty four minutes later. This allowed Salford to launch an attack with Dave Abel going over to score. He converted his own try and reduce the Lions lead to two points. The Lions were reduced to four players our minutes from the break when Jordan Parker was sent to the sin bin for driving into the back of a Salford players wheelchair and knocking them over. Good Lions defence kept Salford at bay.

Salford went back into the lead at the start of the second half. The Lions were penalised for a double tagging. From the penalty, the ball was moved out wide to Dave Abel to score in the corner.  He was unable to convert his own try. The Lions went back into the lead eight minutes later. Jordan Parker took the ball up before quick passing by Elina Parker and Dan Robinson sent Andy Unwin away. He was tackled short. The ball was moved back to Dan Robinson who scored next to the posts. He converted his own try. The scores were level four minutes later. Dave Abel was tackled short of the line. The ball was moved across to Wyatt Jones who was also tackled short of the line. The ball then went out to Mark Riley who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. Dan Robinson was then sent to the sin bin. Again the Lions defence stood firm and kept Salford at bay.

The Lions conceded a penalty seven minutes later. This allowed Salford to go back on the attack. Dave Abel was tackled short of the line. The ball was moved out to Mark Riley to score.  Dave Abel converted. From another penalty, Salford were allowed to launch another attack on the Lions line. Dave Abel went close before passing the ball out to Mark Riley to score. Dave Abel converted. The Lions recovered to restart. The ball was moved out wide to Elina Parker who passed it back inside to Dan Robinson. He sent Jordan Parker away but he was tackled short of the line. The ball was moved back to Dan Robinson who passed it on to Jordan Parker who sent Elina Parker in at the corner. Dan Robinson added the extras. The Lions conceded a penalty five minutes later. Salford the lost possession of the ball which allowed the Lions to go back on the attack with Jordan Parker. The ball was moved across Dan Robinson who sent Elina Parker on a run to the corner. Unfortunately she was tackled into touch as she tried to score. Salford went back on the attack but a loose pass was intercepted by Jordan Parker.  The ball was passed to Dan Robinson who broke through the Salford defence to go on a run before being tackled. Quick passing between Elina Parker and Dan Robinson sent Andy Unwin away. He was tackled short of the line. The ball was moved across to Jordan Parker who sent Martin Beddis in at the corner. The conversion attempt was missed. Salford attacked the Lions line in the last minute. Marissa Chaplin was tackled short. From the play the ball, Mark Riley went over to score. The conversion was missed.

Teams:

Swinton Lions Wheelchair: Andy Unwin, Robin Cronshaw, Dan Robinson, Charlie Gordon, Jordan Parker. Subs:  Elina Parker, Andy Ainley, Ian Cronshaw, Mark Jackson, Martin Beddis.

Tries: Gordon (7), R. Cronshaw (11), J. Parker (14,27), Robinson (50), E. Parker (70), Beddis (78)

Goals: Robinson 6

Salford Wheelchair: Connor Murray-Haycock, Mark Riley, Oliver Waite, Dave Abel, Marissa Chaplin. Subs: Warren Hill, Poppy Clayton, Jess Booth, Wyatt Jones, Claire Jackson.

Tries: Murray-Haycock (3,9), Riley (29,54,63,68,79), Abel (33,42)

Goals: Riley, Abel 4

Pens: 3-12                  Half Time: 24-22

Player of the Match: Jordan Parker