Swinton Lionesses 36 Oulton Raidettes 4
Alan Dixon at Heywood Road
The Lionesses kept up the pressure on the top three with an emphatic victory over the Oulton Raidettes.
Things started badly for the Lionesses when they lost Tiegan Shaw to injury in the 2nd minute. From the restart, the ball was moved out to Emma Welsford who broke through the Oulton defence on a 45-metre run before rounding the fullback to score under the posts. Eve Ashcroft converted. Five minutes later, Kerrie Evans recovered the ball from an Oulton knock on. She went on a 30-metre run to set up the Lionesses next attack which ended in them forcing a drop out. Oulton got their only points in the 16th minute. From a scrum, the ball was moved out wide to Danielle Rose who forced her way over the line to score. Honey Oxtoby was unable to add the extras.
The Lionesses increased their lead in the 23rd minute. From a penalty, Eve Ashcroft side-stepped her way through the defence to go a 30-metre run and set up Demi Fisher to score by the posts. Eve Ashcroft added the extras. Four minutes later, Morgan Pearson went on a run to set up the Lionesses next attack. The ball was moved out to Kerrie Evans, but she was tackled short of the line. Oulton started to put pressure on the Lionesses line but good defence kept them at bay. The Lionesses broke out of defence in the last minute of the half when Jasmine Wilson broke through the Oulton defence and side-stepped the fullback to score. Eve Ashcroft was unable to convert, and the Lionesses went into the break leading 16-4.
Oulton went back on the attack at the start of the second half. Eve Ashcroft recovered the ball and moved in out to Liv Argent who ran 20 metres before passing it on to Sammi Simpson who went on a 20-metre run to score under the posts. Eve Ashcroft converted to increase the score to 22-4. From a penalty in the 54th minute, the Lionesses moved the ball out to Sammi Simpson who ran across the field before passing the ball out to Grace Pritchard who scored out wide. Eve Ashcroft was unable to convert. Four minutes later Liv Argent dummied her way through the Oulton defence to go on a 40-metre run to score out wide. Again, the conversion was missed.
Three minutes later, Abbie Singleton went on a 20-metre run before giving out a short pass to Emma Welsford who ran 20 metres before being tackled. The attack ended with the Lionesses knocking the ball on. Multiple penalties gave the Lionesses good field position ten minutes later. A good run by Charlotte Hill ended with her being tackled short of the line. Maddie Higson went over from dummy half to score. Eve Ashcroft converted.
Teams:
Swinton Lionesses: Eve Ashcroft, Kerrie Evans, Grace Arrowsmith, Libby Clarke, Grace Pritchard, Demi Fisher, Abbie Singleton, Amber Harmon, Maddie Higson, Tiegan Shaw, Sammi Simpson, Jasmine Wilson, Emma Welsford. Subs: Liv Argent, Morgan Pearson, Shannon Stephens, Charlotte Hill.
Tries: Welsford (3), Fisher (23), Wilson (39), Simpson (47), Pritchard (54), Argent (58), Higson (71)
Goals: Ashcroft 4
Oulton Raidettes: Danielle Rose, Honey Oxtoby, India Thorp, Natasha Fox, Georgia Briggs, Hannah Hill, Darcy Westwood, Abby Briggs, Leah McFarlane, Maddison Hirst, Vanessa Harriman, Alice Abbiss, Katy Fisher. Subs: Kiah Holmes, Kaitlyn Wilkinson, Rochelle Liddle, Ellie Indie.
Try: Rose (16)
Pens: 9-1 Half Time: 16-4 Referee: Liam Jones
