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3 weeks ago
26 June 2023
WIDNES VIKINGS 18 SWINTON LIONS 25
IAN RIGG at DCBL Stadium, Sunday 25 June 2023
Swinton Lions put in one of their best performances of the season to pull off a stunning victory over the Vikings on their own patch.
The Lions had a good start when George Roby sent a short kick for the line, but it had to be shuffled dead by the Vikings defence and this continued when the Vikings were twice forced to play the ball near their own line after more Lions pressure. Will Roberts put the Lions ahead on fourteen minutes when Nick Gregson was hit late on thirty metres and the penalty sailed between the sticks. Three minutes later they went further ahead when Jamie Ellis put up a high kick which the Vikings defence allowed to bounce and Ben Davies reacted the quickest to collect the ball and feed it to Ellis who dived in at the corner and Roberts converted from the touchline and this was quickly followed by a second try when this time Roby kicked the ball through and Jack Owens fumbled near his line and Roby finished off touching down in the corner and Roberts again converted from the touchline.
The Lions made their first mistake on twenty-seven minutes when they were caught offside, but the Vikings couldn’t capitalise with some pressure on the line and even the short kick was collected by Joey Romeo who cleared his line. Josh Eaves replaced Roby for the Lions and he went close on thirty-six minutes and from the play the ball George Delaney was held up. Vikings had the games first six again two minutes from the break but knocked on at the first tackle. As the half time hooter sounded Roberts attempted a drop goal which came back off a Vikings player and he regathered and then was dropped on by several Vikings defenders and a fight started and Lewis Hatton and Gav Rodden were sent to the sinbin.
Roberts then got the Lions off to the best possible start in the second half when he kicked a forty-twenty and was injured in the process of kicking the ball but from the play the ball Rhodri Lloyd scored this two hundred and fiftieth point for the Lions and Ben Davies converted from the touchline. Four minutes they were in again when Lloyd sent Jayden Hatton over in the corner but Davies could not convert from the touchline. Vikings then had some pressure on the line, but great defence kept them out.
Jake Spedding made a super try saving tackle on Ryan Millar before Ant Walker went over from short range and Tom Gilmore converted. Olly Davies added the Vikings second on seventy minutes from a short pass from Walker and Gilmore drop kicked the conversion. Jamie Ellis used his vast experience to put over a drop goal with seven minutes left and the Vikings scored a consolation try with two minutes left when Adam Lawton went over from very close range with Gilmore again converting. Andy Badrock almost scored a long-range effort in the closing seconds, but the Vikings defence held out.
LIONS
26 Joey Romeo
4 Jayden Hatton
3 Jake Spedding
nn Ben Davies
22 Andy Badrock
31 Will Roberts
36 Jamie Ellis
8 Gav Bennion
30 George Roby
13 Louis Brogan
11 Rhodri Lloyd
16 Gav Rodden
6 Nick Gregson
Subs (all used)
14 Josh Eaves
35 Lewis Hall
34 George Delaney
10 Kenny Baker
Tries: Ellis (17), Roby (20), Lloyd (42), Hatton (46)
Goals: Roberts 3/3, Davies 1/2
Drop Goal: Ellis
VIKINGS
1 Jack Owens
28 Ryan Millar
26 Max Roberts
29 Zach Eckersley
5 Kieran Dixon
18 Joe Lyons
7 Tom Gilmore
27 Ant Walker
14 Jordan Johnstone
19 Olly Davies
30 Jake Jones
11 Sam Wilde
22 Aaron Brown
Subs (all used)
9 Matty Fozard
12 Adam Lawton
21 Lewis Hatton
17 Shane Grady
Tries: Walker (62), Davies (70), Lawton (78)
Goals: Gilmore 3/3
Sinbin: Hatton (40) Fighting
Penalties: 9-5
Half-time: 0-14
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
Attendance: 2,833
