LIONS’ SLOW START COSTS DEARLY

19 June 2023

SWINTON LIONS 6 BATLEY BULLDOGS 48

IAN RIGG at Heywood Road, Sunday 18 June 2023

A strong first half performance laid the platform for the Bulldogs to claim an eight-try victory over the Lions who were looking for their first double of the season having won on the opening day. James Meadows put his side ahead in the second minute scoring on the right off a Lions error at the play the ball and he converted it too. Five minutes later they were in again when Meadows fed the supporting Kieran Buchanan who raced in by the posts and Meadows converted again. It got even worse for the Lions quickly afterwards when old boy James Brown scored by the posts and the conversion was good. The Lions defence was being torn to shreds by the speed of the Bulldogs attack and Josh Hodson added the next try after Dale Morton rose to knock back a kick for the supporting centre and again Meadows converted. Buchanan was then held up short and on twenty-seven minutes a long pass from Meadows again found Morton to score in the corner and he also added the conversion. The Lions were getting little on the way of attack and a rare chance came seven minutes from the break when George Roby put in a short kick for the supporting Jayden Hatton, but it ran dead, and with a couple of minutes to go to the break Adam Gledhill crashed over by the posts and Meadows slotted the simple conversion.

The Lions game out for the second half with the words of Connor Farrell & Tom Wood ringing in their ears and within three minutes they were over the line for a try created by Will Roberts and Roby which saw Louis Brogan score under the posts and Nick Gregson convert. Roberts made a thirty-metre break soon afterwards but ran out of support and had to take the tackle. Brogan was then held up over the line after more good work by Roberts. Andy Badrock had a chance on forty-nine minutes from a Jamie Ellis kick, but Meadows had to shuffle it dead. Bulldogs were then awarded a penalty for a scrum offence on fifty-six minutes and the elected to kick for goal, but Meadows was off target this time. The Lions managed to force two goal line dropouts as they continued to press the Bulldogs defences, but it was the visitors who went further ahead against the run of play and Dane Manning crossed on the left with Meadows again on target with the boot. Jake Spedding had a good chance five minutes from time after a good passing movement, but he could not hold the final pass down the right and the Bulldogs finished it off in the dying seconds when a good break down the right found the supporting Keegan Hirst and he went in by the right of the posts and Meadows added the final points of the day as the hooter sounded.

LIONS

1 Dan Abram

4 Jayden Hatton

22 Andy Badrock

11 Rhodri Lloyd

3 Jake Spedding

31 Will Roberts

36 Jamie Ellis

8 Gav Bennion

14 Josh Eaves

34 Lewis Baxter

16 Gav Rodden

10 Kenny Baker

6 Nick Gregson

Subs (all used)

13 Louis Brogan

26 Joey Romeo

30 George Roby

35 Lewis Hall

Try: Brogan (43)

Goal: Gregson 1/1

BULLDOGS

21 Aidan McGowan

22 Dale Morton

4 Josh Hodson

18 George Senior

15 Elliot Kear

14 James Meadows

7 Josh Woods

13 James Brown

17 Luke Blake

30 Martyn Reilly

11 Dane Manning

3 Kieran Buchanan

6 Ben White

Subs (all used)

8 Adam Gledhill

10 Keegan Hirst

16 Michael Ward

26 Nyle Flynn

Tries: Meadows (2), Buchanan (7), Brown (13), Hodson (17), Morton (27), Gledhill (35), Manning (71), Hirst (80)

Goals: Meadows 8/9

Penalties:  4-7

Half-time: 0-36

Referee: Mike Smaill

Attendance: 1,009