FOUR CARDS AS LIONS EDGED OUT IN THE DERBY

SWINTON LIONS 10

SALFORD 20

IAN RIGG Heywood Road Sunday

Just a few days off thirty-four years since these two teams met in a league derby match and in this one the fans were treated to an end-to-end battle with three sinbins and a red card. Before the kick-off there was an impeccable minute’s silence held for the mother of former Lions and Salford coach and player Ian Watson who passed away a few days ago. The game started brightly with both sides having early attacks before Jack Holmes opened the visitors account with a short range try under the posts after some kick pressure and Jack Gatcliffe added the conversion. There was another Salford attack on the line before Brad Dwyer scored a solo try on fourteen minutes going through a huge gap on the left and Gatcliffe converted again. Pressure from the Lions now with Reec Briers being held up and Tom Ratchford being grounded ahort as the Lions were playing some good rugby but not getting the bounce of the ball. Gav Rodden was causing the Salford defence lots of headaches and the tackling had to be tip top. The Lions hit back on twenty-five minutes when Ellis Anderson went over in the left corner after some good pressure, but Briers was unable to convert. Gatcliffe put his side further ahead with a penalty three minutes from the break.

The start of the second half was quite eventful with Briers making a break and the tackle sparked a big fight and this saw Louie Roberts and Dwyer yellow carded by the referee for their part. Soon after Adam Jones made a clear break for the Lions but his pass to Aaron Lynch went to ground. Soon after Rodden made a break was well tackled. The Lions hit back again on sixty-six minutes when Roberts made a fifty metre break and he fed Ratchford who raced in by the posts and Briers converted. Anderson made a break two minutes after the restart, but the ball was lost in the attack, but it was Salford who scored a crucial try fourteen minutes from time

going in from short range under the posts and Gatcliffe again converted. The Lions were still playing some great rugby and sending the ball out wide and Anderson had another chance, but a great tackle stopped him. Roberts was then sent to the sinbin again with four minutes left for running in and then Samy Kibula was shown a red card two minutes later for a high shot but the Lions managed to keep their lines free in the last couple of minutes. It was a great Easter treat to the fans and a big attendance too.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

1 Louie Roberts

2 Connor Parkinson

4 Aaron Lynch

20 Adam Jones

3 Ellis Anderson

6 Reece Briers

38 Brad Billsborough

8 Samy Kibula

21 Tom Ratchford

10 Ben Killan