Match Report – Halifax Panthers 48-12 Swinton Lions

29 August 2021

The Panthers got their season back on track with a mauling of the Lions scoring some excellent tries to keep them well in the play off hunt.

Connor Robinson almost opened the scoring in the early minutes after some good play by Greg Worthington, however the Lions almost hit back with Luis Roberts going away to score after intercepting a pass but there had been a knock on in the build-up.

The Panthers’ first score came on eight minutes when Matt Garside broke clear to send Brandon Moore away to score by the posts and Robinson converted. There was another Lions attack that came to nothing before Moore added his second again scoring under the posts after good play by Scott Grix and Dan Murray with Robinson adding the conversion.

This was quickly followed by a well created try by Grix down the right for James Saltonstall who scored in the corner, but Robinson could not convert this one. Panthers were capitalising on Swinton’s handling errors and another lost ball saw Ben Kavanagh race away to score on the left and Robinson again was on target with his kick. On the last play of the half Jacob Fairbank was this time the provider when Liam Harris raced in on the left but the conversion was missed.

Simon Grix’s half time team talk would have been straight forward more of the same but the Lions reshuffled during the break and they made a strong start keeping the Panthers defence pinned on their line for several sets before Rhodri Lloyd found his way over to the right of the posts and this was converted by Martyn Ridyard. They continued this assault on the Panthers line but were unable to break through before Ridyard put up a high kick towards the line and the ball came down to Reece Hamlett who found Will Hope to score under the posts with Ridyard converting. The Panthers then got back on track on sixty-one minutes when Garside scored by the posts and Robinson converted again.

There were then a few chances for both sides but great defence from both with Lloyd being held up for the Lions and Grix, Curtis Davies and Adam Tangata for the Panthers before Ben Tibbs scored after a good passing movement down the left, but this went unconverted and was quickly followed with three minutes to go when Grix got his deserved try and Robinson converted again.

There was a grandstand finish to the game with the Lions getting a penalty as the hooter sounded but as they moved the ball to the right a Lions player was taken out and another penalty was awarded by referee Nick Bennett. The Lions played the ball and moved it swiftly to the left and Jack Hansen tried to kick through the Panthers defence but the ball bounced nicely for Zack McComb who raced full length of the field to score, and Robinson converted to end a perfect day for his side.

Ian Rigg at The Shay Stadium

PANTHERS

1 Scott Grix

24 Ben Tibbs

3 Greg Worthington

21 Zack McComb

5 James Saltonstall

6 Liam Harris

7 Connor Robinson

10 Dan Murray

9 Brandon Moore

16 Will Calcott

11 Matt Garside

17 Ben Kavanagh

13 Jacob Fairbank

Subs (all used)

20 Curtis Davies

25 Adam Tangata

12 Ed Barber

4 James Woodburn=Hall

Tries: Moore (8,13), Saltonstall (17), Kavanagh (27), Harris (39), Garside (61), Tibbs (76), Grix (77), McComb (80)

Goals: Robinson 6/9

LIONS

7 Jack Hansen

22 Geronimo Doyle

1 Mike Butt

39 Reece Hamlett

25 Luis Roberts

6 Martyn Ridyard

18 Cobi Green

13 Will Hope

9 Luke Waterworth

10 Lewis Hatton

11 Rhodri Lloyd

3 Mitch Cox

15 Louis Brogan

Subs (all used)

14 Billy Brickhill

24 Paul Nash

16 Paddy Jones

40 Ronan Michael

Tries: Lloyd (44), Hope (57)

Goals: Ridyard 2/2