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Match Report – Hunslet vs Swinton Lions

HUNSLET HAWKS 16   SWINTON LIONS 28

IAN RIGG at South Leeds Stadium

A good performance saw the Lions take the points in a somewhat scrappy game at times. The Hawks took the lead after just three minutes when Jack Render scored in the left corner and Joe Sanderson added a good wind assisted conversion from the touchline. The scores were level on twelve minutes when the impressive Louis Brogan took three defenders over the line with him to score to the left of the posts and Dan Abram added the conversion against the strong breeze. Four minutes later the Lions were in the lead when a lovely short pass from Matty Wilkinson cut out two defenders for Lewis Charnock to score and again Abram made no mistake with the conversion. Just after the restart from this try Rhodri Lloyd combined with Mike Butt to see the Lions full back cross in the right corner but the final pass was judged forward. Hunslet hooker Harvey Whiteley went over on twenty minutes but lost the ball in his attempt to score. Loanee hooker George Roby extended the Lions lead just before the half time hooter when he went over from short range and Abram converted as the hooter sounded.

Jack Hansen extended the Lions lead three minutes into the second half when he scored under the posts after a thirty-metre break by Jayden Hatton down the right and again this was converted by Abram. George Roby was placed on report on fifty-one minutes following an incident in a tackle and from the resulting penalty and pressure on the line Wayne Reittie scored a try in the right corner but the conversion attempt from Sanderson hit the crossbar and bounced out. The Lions fourth try came on sixty-six minutes when Mike Butt finished off a good passing movement to score on the left, but Abram could not convert this one. Lewis Charnock was sent to the sin bin with seven minutes left and Hunslet added another try with four minutes left with Reittie adding his second and Sanderson made no mistake with his conversion from the touchline.

TEAM

Butt, Lepori, J.Hatton, Roberts, Heyes, Abram, Hansen, Brogan, Wilkinson, L.Hatton, Lloyd, Cox, Charnock. Subs (all used)- Roby, Brickhill, Case, Meadows

Tries: Brogan, Charnock, Roby, Hansen, Butt

Goals: Abram 4/5

Pens: 9-4 Referee: Brad Milligan

News

GEORGE ROBY JOINS LIONS ON LOAN FROM CUP FINALISTS

We are delighted to announce the loan signing of highly rated youngster George Roby from Huddersfield Giants. George trained with the Lions this evening at the club’s AJ Bell Stadium facilities.

George, a hooker, is a former England Academy player whose fantastic progress was recently rewarded by Huddersfield Head Coach Ian Watson with a contract extension to the end of 2023. He has previously had successful loan spells at North Wales Crusaders and Whitehaven.

Swinton Lions Head Coach Allan Coleman said, “George is a player that Huddersfield rate very highly. It’s great that we’ve got the deal done and I’m looking forward to seeing him in a Swinton jersey. George will bring toughness and pace to our middle.”

Swinton Lions would like to thank Ian Watson and Andy Kelly at the Giants for facilitating this loan arrangement.

News

Match Report – Swinton Lions vs London Skolars

SWINTON LIONS 58

LONDON SKOLARS 14

IAN RIGG Heywood Road Sunday

The Lions got back to winning ways running in ten tries against a dogged Skolars team who dug in after last weeks heavy defeat. Lions took the lead after five minutes when a good passing movement saw Lewis Charnock dance his way through the defence to score on the left and Dan Abram converted. Three minutes later they added a second when a good passing movement ended with Max Roberts going over on the left and Abram converted again, and the scoring continued when Abram and Liam Forsyth combined to send Ben Heyes over in the corner and again Abram was on target. Lewis Hatton was held up a few minutes later but Skolars had their first good chance down the right, but Jerome Yates lost the ball in a good position with the line open. Skolars were constantly attacking the line and on twenty-five minutes Yates got his rewards when he collected the bouncing ball to score in the corner and Will Ramsey added the conversion.

Within a minute the Lions hit back when Charnock and Jack Hansen combined to send to send Lewis Else racing away to score and Abram converted this too and with six minutes to go the to the break Charnock added his second going over by the posts. Roberts added his second try within six minutes of the start of the second half touching down on the left after a very scrappy passage of play and again this was converted. This was quickly followed by a second try for Heyes who ran away from two defenders to score, and this was also converted by Abram.

Skolars were starting to ask questions of the Lions defence again and forced two goal line dropouts within two sets before the Lions defence was made to pay when Aaron Small forced his way over on the left, but Ramsey saw his conversion attempt bounce back off the posts and away. The Lions then struck back with two quick tries when Billy Brickhill crossed on the right on sixty-five minutes and Abram converted and then Roberts scored his third after Louis Brogan had gone close, but Abram could not convert from the touchline. The Lions shot themselves in the foot in defence and gifted a try to Skolars winger Leighton Ball who collected a wild pass to score in the corner, but Ramsey could not convert this one from the touchline and the final try came to Lions captain Rhodri Lloyd when he finished off a move created by Hansen to score to the right of the posts and Abram completed the scoring with the close-range conversion.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

  1 Dan Abram

22 Ben Heyes

  3 Liam Forsyth

  4 Max Roberts

  2 Mike Butt

  6 Lewis Else

  7 Jack Hansen

16 Louis Brogan

14 Matty Wilkinson

10 Lewis Hatton

11 Rhodri Lloyd

12 Mitch Cox

25 Lewis Charnock

Subs (all used)

  9 Luke Waterworth

18 Paddy Jones

15 Billy Brickhill

24 Jordan Brown

Tries: Charnock (5,34), Roberts (8,46,68), Heyes (11,52), Else (29), Brickhill (65), Lloyd (77)

Goals: Abram 9/10

SKOLARS

  1 Jarred Bassett

  2 Leighton Ball

  3 Jerome Yates

  4 Aaron Small

23 Errol Carter

  6 Alex Deary

  7 Will Ramsey

  8 Christian Gale

  9 Jonny Bell

10 Sam Wellings

11 Luciano Bejanidze

12 Harry Kaufman

13 Liam O’Callaghan

Subs (all used)

14 Doug Chirnside

21 Will Blakemore

20 Rob Oakey

22 Kojo Korang

Tries: Yates (25), Small (62), Ball (73)

Goal: Ramsey 1/3

Penalty count: 4-7 Half-time:  30-6

Referee:  Kevin Moore

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0,18-6,24-6,30-6,36-6,42-6,42-10,48-10,52-10,52-14,58-14

News

Match report – Swinton Lionesses vs Illingworth

SWINTON LIONESSES 20

ILLINGWORTH 10

IAN RIGG At Heywood Road

The Lionesses continued their good form with a good hard-fought victory over Illingworth played as a double header before the Lions against London Skolars game.

Rebecca Roden put the Lionesses ahead after just five minutes when she crashed over on the left after a good passing movement, but Georgie Cunliffe was unable to add the conversion from the touchline. Illingworth came close five minutes later but prop Debbie Patrice-Smith was unable to control the ball going for the corner but she did make amends seven minutes later when she crashed over from short range, but Charlotte McCauliffe could not add then conversion and the scores were locked at four all.

Maddie Corrigan put the Lions back in the lead on thirty minutes after a super run by Chloe Birkett across the Illingworth defence, but this time Holly Grimes could not add the conversion again from the touchline and two minutes from the break Illingworth full back Niamh Cresswell was sent to the sinbin for an outburst vented towards referee James Flood.

Chloe Birkett got the Lions further ahead on the scoreboard five minutes into the second half when she left several defenders in her wake to score under the posts and Holly Grimes converted. Illingworth should have hit back but were pulled for a forward pass in the build-up. Holly Grimes missed what looked a simple penalty attempt on fifty minutes when Illingworth were pulled for offside in their own twenty, but they were given another penalty two minutes later in the same position and this time Georgie Cunliffe added the two points.

Illingworth came strong on fifty-seven minutes and Gabby Kanvey was held up but in the very next play the added their second try when Molly Waddington scored, and Charlotte McCauliffe added the conversion. The Lionesses secured the result with ten minutes left when Ellie Thirkell collected the ball in her own half and raced through two defenders attempts to tackle before going clear and scoring out on the right, but Maddie Higson could not convert but the result was already in the bag.

TEAMS:

LIONESSES: Maddie Higson, Izzy Birds, Maddie Corrigan, Mia Atherton, Catherine Sweeney, Ashley Deas, Ellie Thirkell, Emily Hayley, Eve Ashcroft, Abbie Parkes-Holden, Chloe Birkett, Rebecca Roden, Georgia Cunliffe. SUBS: Patrycja Baranek, Holly Grimes, Leah Christian, Carla Taylor, Daisy Pearson, Chloe Latham, Emily Swift.

Tries: Roden (5), Corrigan (30), Birkett (45), Thirkell (70)

Goals: Grimes 1, Cunliffe 1.

ILLINGWORTH: Cresswell, Ellis, Waddington, McCauliffe, K.Williams, Hunter, Bentley, Whitworth, S.Williams, Patrice-Smith, Smith, Kanvey, Stubley. SUBS: Jave, Holmes, Murray.

Referee: James Flood. Pens: 7-2 Half-time: 8-4

News

LIONS’ COMMUNITY PROGRAMME GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

News

Lionesses triumph at Hornets!

Rochdale Hornets 16 Swinton Lionesses 46

Yesterday our Lionesses got off to a brilliant start in their League 1 campaign.

Playing on the Rochdale Mayfield ground at Castleton in what was their first ever official league fixture, the Lionesses secured a fine victory against Rochdale Hornets.

For the Lionesses there were some really good individual displays in both attack and defence, and overall Head Coach Martina Greenwood was very happy with how the entire team gelled together. Martina said. “We have worked hard at putting a lot of things right and developing our structures, and happily our efforts came together today. Yes there are always things to work on, but this was great opening start to the season.”

Lionesses:-

1. Maddison Higson (2 tries; 1 goal)
2. Chloe Latham
3. Mia Atherton (1 try)
4. Maddie Corrigan (1 try)
5. Catherine Sweeney
6. Ashley Deas
7. Ellie Thirkell (3 tries)
8. Emily Haley
9. Eve Ashcroft
10. Abbie Parkes-Holden
11. Rebecca Roden (2 tries)
12. Chloe Birkett
13. Georgia Cunliffe (4 goals)

Interchanges

1. Patrycja Baranek
2. Daisy-Mai Pearson
3. Joanne Mullins 

News

Match Report – Keighley Cougars vs Swinton Lions

KEIGHLEY COUGARS 30

SWINTON LIONS 0

IAN RIGG @ Cougar Park

Another bad weekend for the Lions going down to a heavy defeat to the unbeaten Cougars who have not looked back since the Lions defeated them in the warmup game a couple of months ago.

Coach Rhys Lovegrove has got his side playing some impressive rugby and, in this game the defensive effort was equally as good.

The home side took the lead in the first minute when the Lions were penalised for a high shot right in front of the posts and Jack Miller kicked the early points. Scott Murrell was causing the Lions defence all kinds of trouble with his attacking plays and on ten minutes he sent a stab kick towards the Lions line with Dan Abram racing onto it in his in goal but as he was tackled, he lost the ball and Cougars fullback Lewis Young reacted fastest to collect the loose ball and score with Miller converting from close range. Three minutes later they were in again when Miller went over from close range and added the conversion too to stretch the lead.

The Lions had a rare attack just before the half hour when Jose Kenga was held up under the posts, but the chance went, and Cougars further increased their lead four minutes from the break when they won a scrum on thirty metres and the ball moved swiftly to the right with Mo Agoro breaking a tackle on the wing and racing away unopposed to score by the posts with Miller again converting to give his side a twenty-point lead 

The Lions came out much better at the start of the second half but lost Richard Lepori to a head knock after just four minutes when he was injured in a tackle chasing a ball. Then came a few chances with Paddy Jones, and Rhodri Lloyd playing his 150^th Lions game being held up and then Jayden Hatton chased a Kieran Rush kick for the corner, but the bounce was too strong for him. Nick Gregson was sent to the sin bin on fifty-three minutes for holding down in the tackle and while he was off Jayden Hatton had another chance only to be knocked into touch as he went for the corner and just seconds before Gregson was about to come back from his sin bin the Cougars scored again when Charlie Graham went through a huge gap to score by the posts and Miller converted again. Three minutes later they were in again when a long pass found Agoro to score his second in the corner, but Miller failed with the boot this time. In the final eight minutes Jayden Hatton had two more good chances but the Cougars defence would not let him pass and Deane Meadows was also sent to the din bin. The Lions now get two weeks off to recharge their batteries before taking on London Skolars at home.

LIONS:

Abram, Butt, Roberts, J.Hatton, Lepori, Gregson, Rush, Spencer, Waterworth, L.Hatton, Lloyd, Cox, Meadows. SUBS: Wilkinson, Kenga, Charnock, Jones.

Penalties: 11-10 Half-time:  0-20 Attendance:  1233 Referee: Brad Milligan

News

GIANT KIERAN JOINS LIONS IN LOAN DEAL!

We are pleased to announce that the Huddersfield Giants half-back or hooker, Kieran Rush, has joined Swinton on a loan agreement. He will train with his new team mates for this first time this evening at the Lions’ AJ Bell training base.

Kieran, who is 19 years old, has emerged through the scholarship and academy system at Huddersfield, and looks set for a bright future in the game. He comes highly recommended, and Lions’ Head Coach Allan Coleman was delighted with our new arrival.

Allan said, “It’s great to be able to welcome Kieran to Swinton. We’ve kept contact with Huddersfield over recent weeks, and I’d like to thank Giants’ Head Coach Ian Watson, and CEO Andy Kelly, for their support which has enabled this agreement to take place. I’m really looking forward to seeing Kieran in a Swinton shirt.”

Kieran added, “I’m really happy to be at Swinton Lions, and I can’t wait to get some game time and show what I can do.”

Good luck Kieran and welcome to the Lions!

News

CHALLENGE CUP FINAL TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THE LIONS!

WIGAN or ST HELENS v HUDDERSFIELD or HULL KR

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London – Saturday 28 May 2022, kick-off 3pm

Tickets are NOW on sale DIRECT FROM SWINTON LIONS for the Challenge Cup Final at the iconic brand new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 28 May. Please note that by buying from us you are directly helping Swinton Lions because we receive a share of the proceeds!

Not only that, but we can offer a huge 33% saving off the face value of the tickets, with £30 tickets available for just £20. 

The seats are in block 502, and from what we have been told there is not a bad seat in the house! Tickets can either be posted out, or can be collected at Heywood Road at our upcoming matches against London Skolars and Cornwall.