LIONS IMPRESS IN NEWCASTLE AS THUNDER MARCH ON

NEWCASTLE THUNDER 34 SWINTON LIONS 10

IAN RIGG at Crow Trees, Blaydon Saturday

Thunder kept up the pressure on London Broncos with a hard-fought win over the Lions in the Northeast. The home side made a strong start with quite a few of their parent club York players playing in the side. The Lions were missing Reece Briers, Jordan Brown, Ben Killan and Arron Willis from last week’s loss to Doncaster. Winger Andy Djeukessi crossing in the corner after a pass from Jordan Lipp, and Myles Harrison added the conversion. Three minutes later Lipp sliced through the defence to send Will Roberts under the posts and Harrison converted yet again. Lipp normally a fullback but playing at stand-off was having an impressive game and he again was the platform for the next try when he sent King Vuniyayawa under the posts and Harrison was on target again. The Lions then had a chance as Josh Eaves was held up, and just after this chance Pat Ah Van almost got Gav Rodden over. Thunder added their fourth try in the final minute of the half when Harrison sent Roberts in for his second, but the conversion attempt fell wide.

The Lions were playing some good stuff but not being lucky with their chances. When the Lions made a mistake Thunder seemed to pounce and in fact they went further ahead when the impressive Lipp got his deserved try scoring in the corner, but the conversion was missed. Joe Law and Noah Whittingham added two more quick tries in a six-minute period, and these were also both unconverted. The Lions were still playing some good rugby and eventually their efforts finally paid off when Ah Van made a break down the middle and a couple of plays later Harry Higham dived in at the corner for his fiftieth point in a Lions shirt, but Tom Ratchford could not convert from the touchline. From this point on it was all Swinton and they went close twice only to be penalised near the line for incorrect play the balls. There was one final attempt for Thunder when fullback Jack Smith broke clear down the left and looked and all out scorer before Trent Kelly-Duffy caught up with him and ankle tapped him into touch. The Lions added their second try with three minutes left when Aaron Lynch latched onto an Ah Van short kick to score on the left and Ratchford added the conversion. All in all, an impressive effort from the Lions against a full-time side.

TEAMS:

THUNDER: Jack Smith, Andy Djeukessi, Joe Law, Myles Harrison, Jude Ferreira, Jordan Lipp, Will Roberts, Justin Sangare, Alfie Horwell, Mitch Clark, Bailey Antrobus, John Sagaga, King Vuniyayawa, Subs (all used) Brenden Santi, Ukuma Ta’ai, Harvey Reynolds, Noah Whittingham

LIONS: Louie Roberts, Ellis Anderson, Aaron Lynch, Adam Jones, Harry Higham, Pat Ah Van, Tom Ratchford, Sami Kibula, Josh Eaves, Bobby Shingler, Gav Rodden, Deane Meadows, Trent Kelly-Duffy. Subs (all used) Kalum Rathbone, Mike Porter, Dylan Kelly-Duffy, Dante Morley-Samuels

Referee: Carl Hughes Pens: 6-2 Half-Time: 22-0 Attendance: 194