Salford 4        Manchester Swinton Lionesses 78

Alan Dixon at CorpAcq Stadium Community Field

It was another record-breaking day as the Manchester Swinton Lionesses cemented their place at the top of the table and retained the Pankhurst Cup.

Salford were tackled into touch from the kick off. Yasmin Parton Sotomayor and Grace Arrowsmith drove the ball up to the line. Abbie Singleton quickly got the ball out to Maddie Higson who slipped it out to Sammi Simpson to score. Maddie Higson converted. The Lionesses continued to attack but poor handling prevented them from scoring. They recovered the ball from a Salford attack with Eleanor Atherton setting up good field position for the Lionesses. Sammi Simpson was tackled short of the line. The ball was moved across to Amber Harmon who crossed the line but lost control of the ball as she grounded it. Salford struggled to get to halfway on their next possession of the ball. Their last tackle kick was collected by Chloe Newbigging who went on a 80 metre run to score. Maddie Higson kicked the conversion. Good runs from the restart by Maddie Higson, Eleanor Atherton and Jasmine Wilson got the Lionesses near the Salford line. Sammi Simpson sent Jasmine Wilson through a gap to score but she was called back for a forward pass. Salford again struggled to get decent field position and were forced to kick on the last tackle. The kick went into touch. Yasmin Parton Sotomayor took the ball up from the restart. The ball was moved out to Louise Fellingham who sent Grace Pritchard away on a 40-metre run to score and set a new tries in a season record. The conversion was missed.

They scored again from the restart. Salford’s short kick off went straight to Kerrie Evans. She broke through the Salford defence on a 65-metre run to score. Again, the conversion was missed. Salford had to kick on their next possession. The ball was caught by Amber Harmon who went on a 30-metre run. Emma Welsford continued the attack before sending Sammi Simpson on a 30-metre run to score her 100th point for the club. Maddie Higson converted. The Lionesses knocked on at the restart. Salford were unable to keep hold of the ball from the scrum and also knocked on.  The Lionesses got the ball back from the scrum. Emma Welsford went on a run to set up the Lionesses next attack. Abbie Singleton moved the ball out to Kerrie Evans who ran across the front of the Salford defence before going through a gap to score. The conversion was missed. Salford’s next possession ended with a knock on. From the scrum, Emma Welsford sent the Lionesses back on the attack. Madeline Neale took the ball up before sending Kerrie Evans through a gap to score. Again, the conversion was missed.

Salford’s second half kick-off went to Emma Welsford who took the ball up before passing the ball to Leila D’Symonds who went 60 metres to score. Maddie Higson converted. From the restart, Emma Welsford set up the next Lionesses attack with a good run. Another good run by Madeline Neale continued the attack before passing the ball to Sammi Simpson who was tackled short of the line. A short pass then allowed Madeline Neale to force her way over to score her first try for the club. Maddie Higson converted for her 200th point for the club. Salford went back on the attack. They were penalised for pushing the marker at the play the ball. The ball was quickly moved out to Grace Pritchard who ran around the outside of the Salford defence to go on a 70-metre run to score under the posts. Maddie Higson converted. The Lionesses went back on the attack from the restart. Good runs by Leila D’Symonds, Emma Welsford and Kerrie Evans got them close to the Salford line, Emma Welsford put in a high kick out wide. Grace Arrowsmith was unable to take the ball. Salford kicked on their next possession. Chloe Newbigging collected the ball and went on a run before moving the ball onto Sammi Simpson who broke through the Salford defence to go 50 metres to score under the posts. Maddie Higson converted for her 50th goal for the club. The restart went straight to Kerrie Evans to go 60 metres to score her fourth try and equal the tries in a game record. Maddie Higson converted.

Salford’s restart went deep and the Lionesses were adjudged to have taken the ball into touch. Alex Simpson was tackled short of the line. A short pass allowed Mia Regan to barge over the line to score.  Theresa Crookall was unable to convert. Salford knocked on from the restart. From the scrum, Leila D’Symonds went on a 30-metre run before moving the ball across to Yasmin Parton Sotomayor who barged her way over the line next to the posts. The try was disallowed as the referee adjudge her to have lost control of the ball. Salford knocked on coming out of defence on their next possession. From the scrum, the ball was moved out to Grace Pritchard to score in the corner. The conversion attempt was missed. Salford’s restart went straight to Grace Pritchard who outpaced the Salford defence to go on a 60-metre run to score under the posts for her fourth try of the game. This equalled the tries in a game record. Salford again knocked the ball on. From the scrum, Yasmin Parton Sotomayor and Maddie Higson combined to set up the Lionesses next attack. The ball was moved across to Grace Pritchard to score het fifth try and set a new tries in a game record. The conversion attempt was missed.

Teams:

Salford: Chloe Lyons, Lucy Grantham, Eva Wilkinson, Mia Regan, Katie Roach, Niamh Kelly, Alex Simpson, Dearbhla McCoy, Emily Carlisle, Lydia Elstone, Theresa Crookall, Katrina Blencowe, Jodie Morris. Subs: Bulak Dale Gaspalinao, Andrea O’Leary, Ataria Tabi.

Try: Regan (62)

Manchester Swinton Lionesses: Leila D’Symonds, Chloe Newbigging, Kerrie Evans, Grace Arrowsmith, Grace Pritchard, Louise Fellingham, Maddie Higson, Eleanor Atherton, Abbie Singleton, Yasmin Parton Sotomayor, Sammi Simpson, Amber Harmon, Jasmine Wilson. Subs: Sydney Alderman-Smith, Emma Welsford, Madeline Neale, Amelia Newton. 18th Player: Ella Topham.

Tries: Simpson (2,29,56), Newbigging (14), Pritchard (20,50,69,72,76), Evans (23,34,38,59), D’Symonds (41), Neale (45)

Goals: Higson 9

Pens: 0-5                  Half Time: 0-34

**** Photo credits to MKS Photography ****