LIONS GO BACK-TO-BACK WITH WIN OVER DEWSBURY

27 May 2019

The Lions made it two wins on the bounce after another second-half comeback against the Rams.

Swinton Lions claimed their first back-to-back win in three years with a 22-17 victory over Dewsbury Rams.

It was another late show from the Lions scoring the winning try in the final minute of the match to snatch victory from the Rams after it looked like a Michael Knowles drop goal had won it for his team.

It was a scrappy start from both sides making errors at both ends but the Lions defence seemed to make the better start and scrambled well to stop the Rams from getting over the line.

Referee Michael Mannifield placed an incident on report when Rhodri Lloyd seemed to be fouled in a tackle on thirteen minutes but they could do nothing with the penalty pressure. Lewis Hatton was then sent to the sin bin three minutes later for an incident in the tackle and the Rams took control from the resulting penalty when some good passing saw Andy Gabriel score in the left corner but Liam Finn was unable to add the conversion.

Dale Morton added a second on twenty-one minutes when they had a scrum near the line and the ball moved quickly for the fullback to link in and score with Finn adding the conversion this time to stretch the lead to ten points.

The Lions then started to come strong and Liam Forsyth had a good chance on the right but he was just knocked into touch as he went for the corner, and then they did score when Matty Ashton finished off a move with a try on the left but Rob Fairclough could not convert.

Both sides then again had good chances leading up to half time when Finn was held up for the Rams and Ashton was grounded just short for the Lions and Jack Wells also had a good chance before the ball ran free.

The Rams made a great start to the second half putting the Lions on the back foot straight away when Finn put in a great kick off and his side got the ball straight back and it took a great tackle by Liam Paisley to stop Gabriel from getting a second.

The Rams third try came on fifty-three minutes when Rob Worrincy got over on the right and Finn converted again to give his side a twelve point advantage.

Knowles was then sent to the sin bin on the hour for back chatting the official and this time the Lions took advantage when firstly Luke Waterworth was held up by the posts and then from the play ball it moved swiftly to the right and Paisley found a gap to break through and score with Fairclough adding the conversion and the Lions were now well and truly back in the match.

Again both sides had chances and the game could have gone either way with Fairclough being held up and Chris Annakin losing the ball just short of the line for the Rams.

Gavin Bennion levelled the scores with five minutes left when he crashed over by the posts and Fairclough converted but the Rams hit back within two minutes when Knowles slotted over a drop goal on the last tackle to put his side one point ahead but time was running out for the Lions.

In the final minute they were camped on the Rams line and some great pressure and passing saw Bennion hit the line and spin to score by the posts and Fairclough landed the conversion to secure the victory and during the celebrations Rams prop Samy Kibula was red carded by the official for punching but it was great comeback again for the Lions to take the points.

Ian Rigg reporting from Heywood Road.