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COMMUNITY CHAMPION & BUSINESS LEADER A MAJOR ADDITION FOR LIONS

Jason Harborow, a lifelong advocate for rugby league, joins Swinton Lions as a Board Member and Foundation Chair

Jason Harborow, a passionate lifelong supporter of rugby league, has played a key role in the sport’s development both locally and internationally.

In 1999, he took top-level rugby league to the USA through the RL World Cup qualifying tournament in partnership with Disney, later serving as Operations Director for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. More recently, Jason has championed women’s rugby league, supporting teams like Wigan St. Patrick’s, Wigan St. Jude’s, and Wigan Warriors, sponsoring both events and the teams.

In addition to his sports involvement, Jason is a distinguished global leader and senior advisor, specializing in large-scale projects across sports, culture, and entertainment. He is the founder and Chief Executive at Global-13, where he advises on major global initiatives.

He has also held key leadership roles in the UK and Europe, including serving as Chief Executive of Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture, and General Manager of the Manchester Commonwealth Games. Jason is a prominent advocate for inclusiveness and community engagement, and he also shares his expertise as a visiting lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool.

Jason’s passion for Swinton Lions stems from the club’s strong community focus. He is eager to help the club achieve its ambitions to develop a new stadium and expand its impact across Greater Manchester and the north west.

Having accepted the invite to join the Lions’ Board and Chair its Foundation, Jason said, “Swinton Lions is a club built on strong community values, and I’m passionate about helping the club grow its impact both on and off the field.

“Through the Swinton Lions Foundation, we’re dedicated to engaging with the local community, promoting participation, and driving real change. I’m also excited to support the club’s vision to develop a new stadium and expand its reach across Swinton, Salford, Greater Manchester and the north west, ensuring that Swinton Lions continues to be a pillar of the community for years to come.”

Speaking on behalf of the Swinton Lions Board, CEO Steve Wild added, “Upon meeting with Jason last week, initially to discuss the ongoing development of our Foundation, it quickly became apparent that here was a person with impressive business and rugby league related credentials, and someone who might not only fill our vacant position of Foundation Chair, but whose CV could also be of immense value to the club as a whole.

“We believe that the Board and Foundation dual appointment of Jason is a significant coup for our club, and we are delighted to have him on board.”

News

LIONS EDGED OUT BY DONS

SWINTON LIONS 20 DONCASTER 22

IAN RIGG at Heywood Road, Sunday 22 September 2024

Doncaster confirmed their Championship status with a hard-fought victory and leaves the Lions possibly facing a play off to secure theirs. The visitors took the lead in the fourth minute when Pauli Pauli crashed over on the left taking defenders with him, but Connor Robinson was unable to convert. The Lions hit back four minutes later when Jack Stevens sent Richard Lepori over for a try and Stevens added the conversion. Doncaster then forced a goal line drop out on fourteen minutes and from this pressure on the line and a Robinson pass saw Loui McConnell go in from close range and Robinson added the conversion to put them back ahead. The Lions then had some pressure near the line but the damp conditions were causing handling errors from both sides. Luke Briscoe extended the lead for his side on twenty-two minutes after latching onto a Robinson kick to score on the right, but the conversion was missed. Doncaster forced another goal line drop out just after this and Lewis Hall went short with his kick but could not regather the ball and the visitors were awarded a penalty just after for a tip tackle and Robinson converted it. The Lions then had a purple patch trying to fight back and Jordy Gibson sold a dummy to the defence to go over on the left with four minutes to the break and Stevens added the conversion and they finished the half just two points behind when Stevens landed a penalty for obstruction in the final seconds.

Doncaster again started the half strongly and they forced two goal line dropouts in the opening few minutes, but the Lions defence was good and held them out. The Lions had a good chance on fifty-three minutes when Tee Ritson made a seventy metre break up the right wing only to be tackled ten metres short on the last tackle. Stevens levelled the scores on fifty-five minutes with a penalty for holding down and just after the restart in the next set Gibson kicked a forty-twenty and from this the Lions made Doncaster pay when a good passing movement saw Ritson crash over in the right corner to put the Lions ahead, but Stevens was unable to convert from the touchline. Gav Rodden found himself in the sin-bin on sixty-two minutes and just after this Gibson kicked another forty-twenty after Josh Guzdek allowed the ball to bounce, but they could not make anything of this one. McConnell added what turned out to be the Doncaster match winner with thirteen minutes left when he dummied his pass to go over by the posts and Robinson put his team back ahead. The Lions then went back on the attack again trying to claw back some points and twice they got near the line but again handing errors were their downfall. Doncaster came back again in the dying minutes and it too some good defence from the Lions to keep them out.

LIONS
25 Richard Lepori
32 Tee Ritson
3 Jake Spedding
4 Jayden Hatton
5 Rhys Williams
18 Jack Stevens
7 Jordy Gibson
13 Mikey Wood
14 Josh Eaves
10 Gavin Bennion
11 Gav Rodden
12 Mitch Cox
16 Lewis Hall

Subs (all used)
1 Dan Abram
26 Ant Walker
24 Jordan Case
33 Leon Cowen

Tries: Lepori (8), Gibson (36), Ritson (59)
Goals: Stevens 4/5
Sin-bin: Rodden (62)

DONCASTER
17 Josh Guzdek
5 Luke Briscoe
4 Reece Lyne
23 Jason Tali
30 Bureta Faraimo
24 Watson Boas
7 Connor Robinson
31 Lewis Baxter
13 Loui McConnell
10 Suaia Matagi
12 Alex Sutcliffe
16 Pauli Pauli
28 AJ Wallace

Subs (all used)
3 Brad Hey
14 Alex Hodstock
11 Sam Smeaton
25 Ilikya Mafi

Tries: Pauli Pauli (4), McConnell (15,67), Briscoe (22)
Goals: Robinson 3/5

Penalty count: 3-8
Half-time: 14-16
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 836

News

SWINTON LIONS CONFIRM M27 PROJECT IS ALIVE

Swinton CEO to become RFL Vice-President, & Mayor confirms Lions are key to city’s Rugby strategy

At Wednesday’s Rugby Football League Council Meeting, which took place at the AJ Bell Stadium, the Lions’ CEO Steve Wild was confirmed as the incoming RFL Vice-President on a two-year term commencing in January 2025. Steve will share the role and honour with former women’s England international player Danika Priim. Meanwhile, broadcaster Adam Hills MBE, who is well known for his advocacy of inclusive participation in sport, was appointed President elect.

Following news of Steve’s impending appointment, the club was delighted to receive a congratulatory message from City of Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett, who re-affirmed the Council’s commitment to working closely with Swinton Lions moving forward.

The Mayor said, “Congratulations to Steve Wild, CEO of Swinton Lions, following his election as the Vice-President of the Rugby Football League.

“Salford Council have been working with rugby clubs across the city, from the professional level all the way down to the grassroots, to develop our Rugby Strategy for Salford, and Swinton Lions are key partners in this.

“I look forward to working with Steve in promoting rugby league at a local and national level, and in making sure our communities and residents here in Salford share in the sporting, health, social and economic benefits the sport can provide.”

Upon receiving news of the Vice-Presidency, Steve said, “For someone who grew up supporting the Lions from the terraces at Station Road I am overwhelmed with pride at this appointment, and immensely humbled. Pride not just for me personally, but for everyone associated with our historic club, as hopefully it demonstrates the respect Swinton Lions holds in the sport as a result of our combined efforts.

“But just on a personal level it’s almost impossible to justify the hours I continue to commit to Swinton Lions, and on that subject I want to pay tribute to my wife Lesley, and my family, for putting up with it! This club is not a vanity project, it’s seriously challenging and stressful work.

“One of my biggest sources of pride has been the emergence of our Foundation – specifically the progress of our Lionesses; our Player Pathway programmes; and our community social impact programmes. Our reach and effectiveness are set to reach new heights in the months and years to come, thanks to the commitment and amazing talent we have within our community team.

“I also want to take this opportunity to put on record our Board’s determination to double down on our determination to bring the Lions back to M27, and secure a new long term home venue not only for the Lions, but one which has a true community and cross-sport focus. I’m pleased to report that we are already progressing well in establishing the necessary partnerships that we believe can finally make this 32 year old dream come true. It’s very pleasing in this respect to note the warm and practical support we are currently receiving from Salford City Council.

“Work has been progressing for some time behind the scenes on our “M27 Vision”, but as a Board we have admittedly favoured a policy of a quiet and considered approach, rather than go at it all guns blazing and then risk letting people down – conscious as we are of previous false dawns. However, the announcement with regards to the Vice-Presidency, and the public support we are receiving from Paul Dennett and Salford City Council, I think makes this an opportune time to re-iterate our long-term aims for the club.

“Further news in respect of the partnerships that we are pulling together, plus other exciting project news and personnel appointments into the club, will follow over the next few days.

“In the meantime, I re-iterate once again that I believe we have an amazing Board at Swinton Lions, plus incredible staff, players and volunteer network. We also have the best fans in the sport, and tremendous supporter initiatives, which is demonstrated by the determination and loyalty Swinton fans have collectively demonstrated over these past 32 years. That we are competing competitively in a tough competition such as the Championship in 2024, is I believe, a significant achievement in itself.

“Hopefully together we can go on to deliver a sustainable long-term future for the Lions, and if this honorary position can help progress that plan in any way whatsoever, then I’ll be absolutely thrilled.”

News

LIONS’ HEROIC DEFENCE AFTER 2-MEN DISMISSALS

DEWSBURY RAMS 16 SWINTON LIONS 28

IAN RIGG at FLAIR Stadium, Sunday 15 September 2024

The 11 Lions held out to claim the victory as discipline went to the wall at stages. It was a strong start from Swinton forcing the Rams into two goal line drop-outs in the first three minutes before Josh Eaves was held up on five minutes. It was all Lions pressure and again the Rams had to be on their game to stop an attack down the left. The visitors eventually took the lead on 14 minutes when Jack Stevens made a break down the middle before putting in a nice kick for Jake Spedding to chase and score in the right corner and Dan Abram converted. Three minutes later they were in again when Jordy Gibson floated a kick to the left and Jayden Hatton collected it in the air to score and claim his 100th Lions career point with Abram again on target with the conversion. Abram added the third try on 22 minutes when the Rams defence fumbled a Gibson kick near their own line, and he went in at the corner and added the conversion. The Rams hit back two minutes later when Ronan Dixon powered over under the posts with his first touch and Paul Sykes converted.

A fight broke out on the half hour when Gav Rodden was shown a red card for use of the head and Dixon was shown yellow for retaliation. Plenty more went on in the melee and others were perhaps fortunate to avoid cards. Within a minute Rams were over again when Keenen Tomlinson scored in the corner from a kick and Sykes converted. Zeus Silk was held up six minutes from the break and then forced a goal line drop-out, but they lost the ball in the first tackle and Spedding picked up the ball to race 60 metres before being held down in the Rams twenty and this saw Bailey O’Connor sent to the sin-bin. With seconds to go before half time the Lions were awarded a penalty right by the posts and Abram converted it.

Dixon returned from the sin-bin after the break, but within a minute of the restart he found himself back in it again for a late hit on Gibson. The Lions came strong again and on 46 minutes Gibson put a kick to the left corner and Hatton had two bites at the bouncing ball to score in the corner, but Abram was off target. It was a case of same again three minutes later when Hatton scored off another Gibson kick but again Abram missed the conversion. Rams tried to come back again, and Jackson Walker went close. Then as the Lions tried to clear their line Richard Lepori got involved in a tackle and he was also red carded for use of the head. There was still over 20 minutes to play so when Dewsbury scored again through Ollie Greensmith the final hooter looked some distance away for the Lions. Sykes could not convert that one, and Swinton’s defence was heroic for the remainder of the match. In the closing stages both Gibson and Stevens tried drop-goals to give the Lions the security of a 13-point lead, but both sailed wide.

LIONS
1 Dan Abram
25 Richard Lepori
3 Jake Spedding
4 Jayden Hatton
5 Rhys Williams
18 Jack Stevens
7 Jordy Gibson
10 Gavin Bennion
14 Josh Eaves
13 Mikey Wood
11 Gav Rodden
12 Mitch Cox
16 Lewis Hall

Subs (all used)
33 Leon Cowen
26 Ant Walker
24 Jordan Case
8 Liam Cooper

Tries: Spedding (14), Hatton (17,46,49), Abram (22)
Goals: 4/6
Dismissals: Rodden (30) Headbutt, Lepori (58) Headbutt

DEWSBURY RAMS
4 Bailey O’Connor
5 Lewis Carr
22 Marcus Walker
3 Ollie Greensmith
37 Keenan Tomlinson
6 Paul Sykes
9 Jacob Hookem
16 Elliot Morris
33 Reiss Butterworth
17 Jackson Walker
11 Brad Graham
30 Dale Ferguson
13 Louis Collinson

Subs (all used)
36 Luke Mearns
26 Jamie Field
10 Ronan Dixon
32 Zeus Silk

Tries: Dixon (24), Tomlinson (31), Greensmith (59)
Goals: Sykes 2/3
Sin-bin: Dixon (30) Fighting, Dixon (41) Late Hit

Penalty count: 6-5
Half-time: 12-20
Referee: Ben Thaler
Attendance: nk

News

LIONS’ FOUNDATION RE-BOOTS FOR BRIGHT FUTURE!

Swinton Lions’ Foundation announces strategic changes to maintain startling progress!

One of the great success stories at Swinton Lions post-covid has been the rapid rise and reach of the Swinton Lions Community Sports Foundation.

The launch of our Swinton Lionesses women’s team was a seminal moment in the history of our club. We have also seen the fantastic progress of our Lions Elite Athlete Player Pathway (LEAPP) programme, and also our Under 18s and Under 16s Lions Talent Pathway (LTP) programmes. These are perhaps the most visible of our ongoing projects, but they represent just the tip of the iceberg amongst so many great community success stories.

Such has been our Foundation’s progress, that we have undertaken a review of its management structure, to ensure its continued success and growth.

Damian Ridpath has now been appointed as the first ever CEO of the Lions’ Foundation, to enable him to concentrate more time on the strategic direction of the Foundation, rather than its grass roots delivery. Damian’s change of emphasis has created a new role within the organisation, that of Foundation Manager. Mark Robinson takes up that role, with a brief to manage and deliver the day-to-day activities of the Foundation.

Damian said, “I am delighted to be announced as the first Lions Foundation CEO. As part of our strategic vision for the club, in conjunction with the direction of Rugby League as a whole, getting the structure of the Foundation right is an important action to ensure its viability for future growth. I am also delighted that Mark Robinson has accepted the role of Foundation Manager, and together we will drive forward the Foundation’s services to the community. I also want to pay tribute to all those who are making such a fantastic contribution, with Steve Thirkell and his coaching and back-room team at the Lionesses, Dougie Owen, Gareth Pratt, Luke Waterworth who are central to our talent pathway, and indeed all of our community coaches and volunteers. I am also thrilled that the Swinton Lions Foundation is now so positively respected across the whole of Rugby League and beyond.”

Upon his appointment as Foundation Manager, Mark Robinson, said, “I’m absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the new Swinton Lions Foundation Manager. I feel as though this is the next step in my personal pathway in Rugby League, but more importantly in the pathway of the Lions Foundation itself. I’m looking forward to working with the Lionesses, our pathway programmes, and to growing the already amazing school projects that we deliver – and much more besides. My aim is to also start and grow our wheelchair rugby team, an LDRL team, as well as introduce Tag Rugby and Walking Rugby for the over 55s. Finally, I would like to thank Damian and all concerned for this opportunity.”

We are also delighted to announce that club director Andy Unwin will act in the role of Chairman of the Foundation. This is a temporary appointment whilst we seek an individual from outside of the current Swinton Lions set-up, which will not only help ensure good governance, but also the continued influx of fresh ideas from outside of the current overall club set-up.

Whilst our Foundation continues to have a positive impact in Manchester, Trafford and Bolton, our relationship with Salford City Council has arguably never been better, and this will enable us to continue to maintain a positive influence across the whole city into the future, including of course within Swinton & Pendlebury itself. With news of a specific City of Salford Rugby League strategy taking place, it’s imperative that Swinton Lions is in a position to play an influential role.

News

RAMPANT LIONS STUN ROVERS!

SWINTON LIONS 28 FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 8

IAN RIGG at Heywood Road, Sunday 8 September 2024

The Lions put in a superb performance to claim a season’s double over Rovers and move out of the bottom two. The last time the Lions did the double over Rovers was in the 1962/3 season. It was Rovers who took the lead in the fourth minute when Danny Addy put in a short kick and Greg Minikin scored on the right, but Dec Patton was unable to convert. Patton then tried to set up Greg Eden, but the kick ran dead with the fullback chasing. The Lions forced two goal line drop-outs, but nothing came from them and then Brad Day and Connor Barley had chances for Rovers, but both knocked on in good positions. The Lions took the lead on sixteen minutes when Gav Rodden, Jayden Hatton and Lewis Hall combined to send Richard Lepori in by the posts and Dan Abram converted. Good Lions defence thwarted Rovers twice before the Lions went further ahead when Jayden Hatton put in an arched run to latch on to a pass by Jordy Gibson to score by the posts and Abram again converted. It looked like Abram was going to add the Lions third try when he chased a Gibson kick but knocked on diving for the line and then kicked the ball away and was sent to the sin-bin for delaying the restart. Rovers tried to come strong again and Barley had a good chance for the corner but lost the ball near the line.

The second half started well for the Lions when Mitch Cox stole the ball one on one from Connor Jones and this put the Lions back on the attack. And in the forty-sixth minute Rodden put in a nice kick for the corner and Rhys Williams went in for a try but Abram was unable to convert. An incident was placed on report for a tackle on Jack Stevens and from the penalty play Williams almost got Rodden away, but he knocked on. Rovers then bombed a try when Patton kicked for the right corner, but Maddox Jeffery could not hold the ball to score. The next Lions try came on the hour when smart thinking by Jake Spedding went short side and sent Lepori in for his second in the right corner, but Abram could not convert this one. Just after the restart Lepori made a break down the right, but the Rovers defence held him short. Rovers added their second try on sixty-five minutes when Eden scored in the corner but again no conversion. The Lions were getting on top again and Lepori scored his third with thirteen minutes left when Jack Stevens kicked for the corner and the ball bounced nicely off his boot for him to score and claim his 100th point for the club with Abram adding the conversion. There was more and more pressure on the Rovers line as timed ticked away and the visitors could not get away, but it was the Lions who scored the last points of the match when Abram kicked a penalty for backchat. The game finished with the Lions on the attack in the Rovers twenty.

LIONS
1 Dan Abram
25 Richard Lepori
3 Jake Spedding
4 Jayden Hatton
5 Rhys Williams
18 Jack Stevens
7 Jordy Gibson
10 Gavin Bennion
14 Josh Eaves
13 Mikey Wood
11 Gav Rodden
12 Mitch Cox
16 Lewis Hall

Subs (all used)
20 Jack Houghton
26 Ant Walker
24 Jordan Case
8 Liam Cooper

Tries: Lepori (16. 60.67), Hatton (26), Williams (46)
Goals: Abram 4/6
Sin-bin: Abram (29) delaying the restart
Man-of-Match: Ant Walker

ROVERS
26 Greg Eden
31 Connor Barley
4 Greg Minikin
3 Josh Hardcastle
29 Maddox Jeffery
13 Danny Addy
30 Dec Patton
36 James Lockwood
9 Connor Jones
32 Ben Nabkubuwai
11 Brad Day
12 Jack Bussey
37 Jimmy Beckett

Subs (all used)
8 Gadwin Springer
14 Harry Bowes
23 Jack Arnold
15 Wellington Albert

Tries: Minikin (4), Eden (65)
Goals: Patton 0/2

Penalty count: 6-5
Half-time: 12-4
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 780

News

CHAMPIONS ELECT OVERCOME LIONS

SWINTON LIONS 0 WAKEFIELD TRINITY 60

IAN RIGG at Heywood Road, Sunday 1st September 2024

An eleven try display by Trinity saw them overcome the Lions with a lesson in keeping the ball alive and excellent finishing. Before the game the Lions gave a guard of honour to their opponents, but also for their own player Mitch Cox who was playing his 100th game for the club. It started badly for the Lions when they knocked on at the very first tackle. Trinity took the lead in the fourth minute when Matty Ashurst went in at the corner and Max Jowitt landed the conversion. Too fast and too strong came to mind when Toby Boothroyd tore threw the centre of the Lions defence to send Lachlan Walmsley under the posts and Jowitt again converted. The third try quickly followed when a good passing movement saw Derrell Olpherts crossing in the left corner but no conversion from this one. The Lions defence was under constant pressure with the attacking style Trinity were playing and Jay Pitts was next to score when he crashed in by the posts with Jowitt on target again. Former Lion Liam Hood set up the next one this time sending out a short pass for Ky Rodwell to go over on the left and again the conversion was good. An incident not identified was placed on report in the build up to the try. The next try came to the returning Isaiah Vagana when he went in from short range on the half hour and again a good conversion. The Lions had a rare chance three minutes from the break but Brad Hammond going over on the right was pulled for a forward pass and in the last minute of the half good play down the left by Ashurst and Olpherts saw Liam Kay race over, but the conversion attempt hit the post and bounced out.

It was a much better performance from the Lions in the third quarter of the match and they played some good rugby and put in some great defence. They forced a goal line drop out on forty-six minutes but couldn’t do anything with it and then Ant Walker was held up a few minutes later. Max Jowitt had moved to full back in the second half, and he was being put under pressure with kicks from Jordy Gibson. When Trinity started the fight again the Lions defence was good until Olpherts scored his second after a good offload by Jowitt and he raced in at the corner with Jowitt converting. Hood knocked on at the restart but again the Trinity defence held out and with ten minutes to go Kay produced a try for the impressive Boothroyd on the right but again no conversion as it struck the post. Trinity were coming strong in the final minutes of the game and Rodwell scored a nice try running the angles and Jowitt converted. With just a couple of minutes left some good play and passing saw Rodwell complete his hat trick and Jowitt topped off a good afternoon with another conversion.

LIONS
1 Dan Abram
3 Jake Spedding
28 Brad Hammond
4 Jayden Hatton
5 Rhys Williams
16 Lewis Hall
7 Jordy Gibson
10 Gavin Bennion
14 Josh Eaves
13 Mikey Wood
8 Liam Cooper
12 Mitch Cox
33 Leon Cowen

Subs (all used)
31 Ciaran Nolan
24 Jordan Case
26 Ant Walker
20 Jack Houghton

TRINITY
5 Lachlan Walmsley
22 Jack Croft
4 Iain Thornley
3 Oli Pratt
32 Derrell Olpherts
1 Max Jowitt
14 Liam Kay
18 Ky Rodwell
9 Liam Hood
8 Josh Bowden
11 Matty Ashurst
20 Toby Boothroyd
13 Jay Pitts

Subs (all used)
10 Renouf Atoni
16 Matthieu Cozza
19 Isaiah Vagana
21 Thomas Doyle

Tries: Ashurst (4), Walmsley (8), Olpherts (16,62), Pitts (21), Rodwell (27,75,78), Vagana (30), Kay (38), Boothroyd (70)
Goals: Jowitt 8/11

Penalty count: 7-5
Half-time: 0-38
Referee: Michael Smaill
Attendance: 1048

News

LIONS IN LATE LOSS DRAMA AT BARROW

BARROW RAIDERS 20 SWINTON LIONS 18

IAN RIGG reporting, Craven Park, Sunday 25 August 2024

The Lions having fought the difficult conditions, and some controversial calls finally fell to defeat in front of the large following of Lions fans. Raiders were playing towards the gale force winds in the first half and they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts on four minutes but the kick from Ryan Shaw did not even reach the posts and held in the wind and came back into play but Jake Spedding managed to ground the ball. Raiders did take the lead three minutes later when former Saint Aaron Smith scored to the left of the posts but the conversion from Shaw again caught the wind and went off target. The Lions hit back on ten minutes when Dan Abram kept his kick low to convert a penalty for dumping in the tackle. Smith claimed his second Raiders try six minutes later going over from short range and Shaw managed to convert this one. The Lions came back strongly when a good move down the left sent Rhys Williams over for his 100th point for the club but the conversion from Abram sailed off target. Raiders went further ahead a few minutes later when the Lions were penalised for a ball steal in front of the posts and Shaw converted. Abram the added another penalty five minutes from the break and a few minutes later the Lions could have levelled the scores when Mikey Wood put in a kick for the corner and Williams chased it, but as it looked like it would roll dead, he knocked it backwards towards the chasing Jayden Hatton, but the Raiders defence got their first.

The Lions put Raiders straight back on the attack from the kick off to the second half when the wind caused Jordy Gibson to mis-judge the ball and it ran dead. Gav Rodden put the Lions into the lead for the first time on forty-five minutes when he stole the ball one on one with Luke Broadbent just on halfway and raced away to score by the posts with Abram keeping his conversion low to add the points. It got even better five minutes later when the Lions won a scrum in the Raiders twenty and Gibson sent out a lovely pass for Spedding to score on the right, but this time Abram was unable to convert. An incident went on report on fifty-three minutes when Josh Eaves appeared to be kicked on the floor when he dived on a loose ball. More pressure was coming from the Lions forcing two goal line dropouts, but they couldn’t take the advantage, and it was the Raiders who levelled the score when the Lions gave away a penalty and from the pressure Jarrad Stack crashed in on the right and Shaw added the conversion. Now it was game on again. Raiders took the lead again with six minutes left after George Roby was penalised and sent to the sinbin for a shirt pull and Shaw made no mistake with the kick. The Lions were battling to get out of their own half in the final minutes but defence from the home side kept them where they were. Another incident that involved Shaw and Ant Walker went on report in the final minute.

LIONS
Abram, Lepori, Spedding, Hatton, Williams, Hall, Gibson, Bennion, Roby, Houghton, Rodden, Cox, Wood. Subs: Eaves, Case, Walker, Cooper

Referee: Kevin Moore
Penalties: 11-8
Half-Time: 12-8
Attendance: 1,495

News

LIONHEART DEFENCE REPELS PANTHERS!

SWINTON LIONS 20 HALIFAX PANTHERS 6

IAN RIGG at Heywood Road, Sunday 18 August 2024

Swinton Lions completed a league double over the Panthers with a superb defensive effort and some very enterprising build up play creating some great tries. Right from the off it was clear that the Lions wanted to bounce back from recent weeks, and they took the lead from a Panthers play when they were attacking the line on the left, but Jake Spedding managed to intercept and race ninety metres to score on the right with Louis Jouffret trying to close him down and Jordy Gibson added the conversion. There was more pressure on the Panthers line, but handling errors let them down. They did go further ahead on twenty-one minutes again from a Panthers mistake and from the scrum pressure George Roby found a nice, floated pass to Rhys Williams and he scored in the corner but no conversion this time from Gibson. The Lions were then put under pressure and Panthers had several plays near the line but superb defence from the home side held out. The clearest chance came to Clement Boyer when he looked to be scoring but ten metres out, he lost the ball in the Lions ten and from the next play Ben Crooks went for the corner, but the defence showed him the touchline.

Panthers were first to show in the second half and it was Gareth Widdop who made a nice break down the middle but loose handling forced him to drop the ball just inside the Lions half. The Lions forced a goal line drop out on the next play, but a horror knock on from the kick by Jordan Case on halfway handed the ball back to the visitors. Some great defence by Richard Lepori stopped another attack before Adam O’Brien went for the line and knocked on by the posts. Gibson looked an all-out scorer on fifty minutes but just lost the ball as he tried to touchdown. Keelan Foster then had a good chance for Panthers but knocked on with the line open. The Lions then forced four goal line dropouts in the space of as many minutes but on the fourth one they lost the ball inside the Panthers thirty with a knock on. It was then Panthers turn to start putting the pressure on again and it took a good line clearance from Lepori to stop Joe Keyes from going over. Jayden Hatton then put the Lions further ahead on sixty-four minutes when he scored on the right dipping past Crooks to touchdown, but Gibson was just off target with the conversion. Jouffret then tried to get Charlie Graham away down the left, but the pass was forward. The try that secured the victory came with nine minutes left when again Panthers were on the attack on the right and another wayward pass found Williams but as he was being tackled, he offloaded and gave the pass to Gav Rodden who raced eighty metres to score under the posts and Gibson added the simple conversion. Panthers had been trying to break the line all afternoon and finally succeeded with six minutes left when Widdop followed his own kick to score under the posts and Jouffret converted too little too late.

LIONS
25 Richard Lepori
3 Jake Spedding
21 Andy Badrock
4 Jayden Hatton
5 Rhys Williams
16 Lewis Hall
7 Jordy Gibson
10 Gav Bennion
9 George Roby
20 Jack Houghton
11 Gav Rodden
12 Mitch Cox
33 Leon Cowen

Subs (all used)
14 Josh Eaves
24 Jordan Case
26 Ant Walker
8 Liam Cooper

Tries: Spedding (11), Williams (21), Hatton (64), Rodden (71)
Goals: Gibson 2/4

HALIFAX PANTHERS
23 Gareth Widdop
5 James Saltonstall
17 Ben Tibbs
4 Ben Crooks
28 Charlie Graham
6 Louis Jouffret
7 Joe Keyes
8 Adam Tangata
20 Tom Inman
34 Keelan Foster
11 Ben Kavanagh
19 Connor Davies
25 Corey Johnson

Subs (all used)
9 Adam O’Brien
13 Jacob Fairband
30 Joe Hird
29 Clement Boyer

Tries: Widdop (74)
Goals: Jouffret 1/1

Penalty count: 3-10
Half-time: 10-0
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 1,037