LIONS RUE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES AT WIDNES

01 April 2024

WIDNES VIKINGS 28 SWINTON LIONS 10

IAN RIGG at the DCBL Stadium, Friday 29 March 2024

The Vikings made it two wins from two in a hard-fought game which was end to end throughout with some impressive attack and defence on show. It was the Lions who took the lead in the second minute when Dec Patton and Dan Abram combined to send centre Andy Badrock over on the left and Patton added the conversion. Widnes almost hit back a few minutes later following a goal line drop out and Mikey Wood did well to stop Matty Fozard from scoring under the posts. Louis Brogan then went close for the Lions but knocked on near the line and from the next play the scores were level when Tom Gilmore kicked downfield, and the ball bounced nicely into the hands of Mike Butt who put out a nice pass for Rhodri Lloyd to go over on the right against his former club with Gilmore adding the conversion. Then followed some good pressure from the Lions with Abram, Matty Chrimes and Rhys Williams all testing the defence, but some good scramble kept them out. The Vikings forced another goal line drop out on twenty-three minutes and there was more pressure on the Lions defence and on the final tackle Ryan Ince crashed over in the left corner after latching on to a floated pass from Gilmore, but he was unable to add the conversion from the touchline. The almost scored again from the restart when Butt broke through, and he handed on to Jack Owens and he looked an all on scorer but a great tackle form Chrimes put him down just short. George Roby then sent Brogan through a gap with the line open, but the pass was forward. Patton had an opportunity to bring the Lions within two points just seconds from the half time hooter when Brogan was high tackled, but his penalty drifted wide.

Another strong start from the Lions in the second half after Vikings hooker Jordan Johnston knocked on just inside the Lions half and from the scrum Jayden Hatton was held up and then they got a six again near the line and from this Williams crossed in the left corner to level the scores, but Patton was unable to add the conversion. Ant Walker then put his side back in the lead on forty-nine minutes after a short pass from Gilmore and he also added the conversion. Gilmore then added a penalty from almost in front of the posts for a high tackle. Danny Langtree was held up on sixty-six minutes but in the next set Ince scored his second in the corner again after another floated pass but again no conversion. With the Lions two scores behind and the game still in the balance Gilmore tried a drop goal but it sailed wide. The Lions were starting to pressure the line in the closing minutes, and this saw Vikings centre sent to the sinbin with six minutes left for pulling a Lions defender back. From this penalty the Lions pressure ended with a high kick from Patton being defused by Ince near his own line. Fozard scored the Vikings final try in the dying seconds when he went passed several tacklers to score on the left after some good build-up by Johnstone and Gilmore converted as the hooter sounded.

LIONS
1 Dan Abram
2 Matty Chrimes
4 Jayden Hatton
21 Andy Badrock
5 Rhys Williams
6 Dec Patton
7 Jordy Gibson
24 Jordan Case
14 Josh Eaves
13 Mikey Wood
11 Gav Rodden
12 Mitch Cox
34 Louis Brogan

Subs (all used)
9 George Roby
33 Jacob Gannon
31 Sam Royle
37 Noah Stephens

Tries: Badrock (2), Williams (45)
Goals: Patton 1/3

VIKINGS
1 Jack Owens
20 Mike Butt
3 Matt Fleming
4 Joe Edge
2 Ryan Ince
6 Joe Lyons
7 Tom Gilmore
15 Liam Kirk
9 Matty Fozard
31 Dan Murray
11 Rhodri Lloyd
19 Sam Wilde
13 Nick Gregson

Subs (all used)
12 Danny Langtree
14 Jordan Johnstone
16 Max Roberts
22 Ant Walker

Tries: Lloyd (11), Ince (25,68), Walker (49), Fozard (80)
Goals: Gilmore 4/6
Sinbin: Fleming (74) pulling back attacker

Penalties: 9-9
Half-time: 10-6
Referee: Michael Smaill
Attendance: 2751