Swinton Lions Wheelchair 22 Hull Kingston Rovers Wheelchair 42
Alan Dixon at Be active, Urmston
Swinton Lions battled hard but were unable to overcome a strong and experienced Hull Kingston Rovers side. More history for the club was made in this game for the club with three generations of a family all playing at the same time with Grandma Elina Parker, Son Jordan Parker and Grandson Jace Parker all taking to the pitch.
Rovers started the brighter with O. Norton racing away down the wing in the first minute. A tackle by Kieron Lacey forced him into touch. The Lions went straight down the field with their first touch of the ball. Kieron Lacey kicked over the Rovers defence, but he was unable to regather the ball as he crossed the try line. Rovers attacked the Lions line. A kick across field was knocked into touch by Andy Unwin. From the restart, the ball was moved across the field to MacKenzie to score. Jacob was unable to convert. Rovers went straight back on the attack from the kick off but, Norton dropped the ball with an open line. The Lions lost possession of the ball on their next attack in the ninth minute. This allowed Rovers to go back on the attack which ended with O. Norton scoring. Again, Jacob missed the conversion. Three minutes later Rovers scored again when Norton scored in the corner. Again, Jacob was unable to convert.
The Lions went back on the attack four minutes later, but it ended with a kick through by Kieron Lacy being regathered by Rovers. Rovers went straight downfield with Good scoring a try in the corner. Jacob still couldn’t convert. The Lions eventually got on the scoreboard in the 23rd minute. Kick by Kieron Lacey was unable to be taken by Andy Unwin. Rovers lost the ball coming out of defence which gave the Lions superb field position. Kieron Lacey was tackled short of the line. The ball was quickly moved out wide to Andy Unwin who scored in the corner. Dan Robinson converted to make it 6-16. Swinton reduced the arrears even further in the 27th minute. A Rovers loose pass coming out of defence again gave the Lions superb field position. Andy Unwin was tackled short of the line. The ball was moved across to Jordan Parker who squeezed through a gap to score. Dan Robinson converted. MacKenzie kicked a penalty for Rovers on the stroke of half time to give them a six-point advantage at half time.
The second half started as the first half had finished with another MacKenzie penalty. Swinton scored again in the 39th minute. Dan Robinson was tackled short of the line. The was moved to Kieron Lacey who crashed over to score. Dan Robinson added the extras to make it 18-20. Rovers increased their lead two minutes later when Norton crossed to score. Jacob added the extras. Rovers lead was extended to 32-18 three minutes later when Norton scored in the corner. Jacob added the extras.
Straight from the kick off the ball was moved out to Norton who raced half the length of the field to score under the posts. Jacob missed the conversion. A kick through by Rovers in the 53rd minute was gathered by Kieron Lacey who sent the Lions back on the attack. The ball was moved downfield, and it eventually found its way out to Kieron Lacey to score. Duncan Clarke was unable to convert. Rovers scored the final points four minutes from time. A kick through by Good was gathered by MacKenzie to score. Jacob added the extras.
Teams:
Swinton Lions Wheelchair: Andy Unwin, Duncan Clarke, Dan Robinson, Jordan Parker, Kieron Lacey. Subs: Jace Parker, Elina Parker, Robin Cronshaw, Andrew Ainley, Charlie Gordon, Ian Cronshaw
Tries: Unwin (23), Jordan Parker (27), Lacey (39,53)
Goals: Robinson 3
Hull Kingston Rovers Wheelchair: Norton, Jacob, Good, O. Norton, MacKenzie. Sub: McGuigan
Tries: MacKenzie (5,56), O. Norton (9,41,44,46), Norton (12), Good (17)
Goals: MacKenzie 2, Jacob 3
Pens: 2-3 Half Time: 12-18
*** Photo credit Donna Robinson ***
