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Illingworth  14          Swinton Lionesses  14

13 September 2022

Alan Dixon at Mason Green

The final league game of the season ended in a hard earned draw for the Lionesses. They can now look forward to a week off before the play-offs start in a fortnight.

The Lionesses were first to score in the 9th minute. Illingworth knocked on close to the Swinton line. From the resulting scrum, Maddie Higson raced 90 metres to score under the posts. Georgia Cunliffe kicked the conversion to make it 6-0. The kick off was fumbled by the Lionesses. Illingworth recovered the ball and quickly moved downfield. The Lionesses left sided defence was drawn into the middle which allowed Illingworth to create a large overlap and Katie Smith crossing the line to score. She missed the conversion. Illingworth went on the attack again. The kick off went straight to Reagan Walker who took the ball into the Swinton half. A couple of tackles later and Illingworth scored when Angel Bentley dived over from close range. Katie Smith added the conversion and Illingworth now led 10-6 after 16 minutes. The restart was almost a carbon copy of the previous one. Again the ball went to Reagan Walker who took the ball deep into the Lionesses half. A superb tackle by Daisy Pearson put the Illingworth winger into touch yards from the line.

The Lionesses could not get out of their own half. Illingworth continued to put pressure on the Swinton line, but the Lionesses defence held strong. The Lionesses eventually got into the Illingworth half after 38 minutes. After a penalty was awarded to the Lionesses, the ball was moved across field to Mia Atherton to score. Georgia Cunliffe was unable to added the conversion and the half finished all square at 10-10.

The second half started with Illingworth camped on the Lionesses line. The Lionesses eventually broke away in the 46th minute. A strong run by Maddie Corrigan put the Lionesses on the attack in the Illingworth half of the field. The ball eventually found its way to Ellie Thirkell who went through a gap to score. Georgia Cunliffe missed the conversion. The Lionesses now led 14-10. Illingworth went back on the attack. The Lionesses defence stayed strong as Macy McDermott crossed the line but couldn’t ground the ball. The Lionesses broke away after 53 minutes. Daisy Pearson was tackled just short of the try line. Illingworth’s Elizabeth Stubley was sin binned for foul play in the tackle.  Swinton pressurised the Illingworth line. Two minutes later, the Lionesses got another penalty for a high tackle on Eve Ashcroft who had to leave the field. From the penalty, the ball was moved out wide to Chloe Birkett who knocked on as she crossed the line. 

Illingworth went back on the attack. The Lionesses couldn’t get out of their own half. Chloe Birkett saved a certain try by tackling the Illingworth winger into touch in the 56th minute.  The Lionesses defence continued to stay strong despite losing players through injury. Illingworth crossed the Lionesses line in the 67th minute. Again the defence stopped them from grounding the ball. Two minutes later, they crossed the line again. This time Daisy Pearson was able to strip the ball and regain possession. The Lionesses defence was eventually breached in the 77th minute when Reagan Walker scored out wide. Katie Smith missed the conversion. The Lionesses had one last chance to win it. Illingworth knocked on the restart. From the scrum, the Lionesses moved the ball out towards the wing, but they dropped the ball and the referee blew up for full time.

Teams :

Illingworth : Angel Bentley, Tira Murray, Maia Taktikos, Charlotte McCauliffe, Alice Stubley, Summa Hunter, Julia Lowery, Sienna McPherson, Holly Waddington, Elizabeth Stubley, Lilliebelle Hunter, Macy McDermott, Libby Beckett. SUBS : Ruby-Mae Broadbent, Briony Crawshaw, Niamh Cresswell, Gabrielle Kaney, Katie Smith, Debbie Smith, Reagan Walker

Tries : K. Smith (12), Bentley (16), Walker (77)

Goals : K. Smith 1

Swinton Lionesses : Maddie Higson, Izzy Birds, Mia Atherton, Maddie Corrigan, Daisy Pearson, Georgia Cunliffe, Ellie Thirkell, Leah Christian, Eve Ashcroft, Abbie Parkes-Holden, Emily Haley, Holly Grimes, Rebecca Roden. SUBS : Patrycja Baranek, Libby Curran, Mollie Scotson, Catherine Sweeney, Morgan Corrigan, Jo Mullins, Chloe Birkett, Chloe Latham

Tries : Higson (9), Atherton (38), Thirkell (46)

Goals : Cunliffe 1

Pens : 4-5                  Half Time : 10-10

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