MATCH REPORT – KEIGHLEY COUGARS VS SWINTON LIONS

13 March 2022

KEIGHLEY COUGARS 22 SWINTON LIONS 42

Ian Rigg at Cougar Park

The Lions put in a good performance to gain a good win in the Yorkshire sunshine against a team rated as one of the favourites for the league one title this season. The Lions attack scoring eight tries cutting large holes in the Cougars defences.

Dan Abram put the Lions ahead in only the second minute when a good passing movement saw him cross in the left corner, but he could not add the conversion in the windy conditions. Two minutes later some good build up work by Ben Heyes and Luke Waterworth down the left saw Max Roberts cross again in the left corner but this time Abram converted after the kick hit the left upright and bounced over for a ten-point lead after just four minutes. Billy Brickhill had to leave the field on nine minutes with a bad cut to his leg and he was replaced by Lewis Hatton. Cougars had forced a goal line drop out and from this they put pressure on the Lions line and former Oldham winger Mo Agoro managed to cross for a try on the right, but Jack Miller could not convert.

Abram went close again on thirteen minutes but was grounded just short and from the next play it looked like Jack Spencer would score under the posts, but the Cougars defence managed to hold him up on the last tackle. They did get over for the third try on fifteen minutes when Waterworth crossed under the posts after cutting inside and Abram converted again. Cougars hit back straight away when veteran hooker James Feather went through a huge gap in the Lions defence from a scrum to score by the posts and Miller converted.

Matty Wilkinson had just replaced Waterworth from the substitutes bench and he weaved his way in and out of about six defenders to score to the left of the posts for an impressive try and again this was converted by Abram. Nick Gregson was held up on thirty-one minutes but five minutes later a good movement of the ball through six sets of hands saw Richard Leopri score in the right corner, but Abram was unable to convert from the touchline and just before the break Lewis Hatton crashed over between the posts and Abram converted this one to give the Lions a twenty-two point advantage at the break.

Both sides were constantly changing players throughout the game and the Lions introduced their two new faces to the pitch with Owain Abel coming on just before the break for Gregson and Jayden Hatton was introduced at the break for Abram. Abel made a bright start to the second half and almost created two tries in the opening minutes but third time lucky on forty-five minutes he set up a second try for Lepori who crossed on the left, but Jack Hansen could not convert against the wind. Cougars hit back again on fifty minutes when Nathan Roebuck went through a huge gap from another scrum to score by the posts and Miller again added the simple conversion. Hansen scored the last Lions try of the afternoon when he kicked ahead from about twenty metres and Cougars wingman was unable to control the bounce of the ball and it went through his legs with Hansen still chasing the ball and it bounced up nicely for the Lions half back to regather and score to the right of the posts and add the conversion. It was Cougars who finished the scoring for the afternoon when Matt Bailey scored under the posts and Miller converted.

LIONS TEAM:

1, Dan Abram, 22. Ben Heyes, 4. Max Roberts, 2. Mike Butt, 5. Richard Lepori, 13. Nick Gregson, 7. Jack Hansen, 17. Jack Spencer, 9. Luke Waterworth. 15. Billy Brickhill, 11. Rhodri Lloyd, 12. Mitch Cox, 23. Jordan Case. SUBS: 14. Matty Wilkinson, 16. Louis Brogan, 10. Lewis Hatton, 19. Jose Kenga, 20. Deane Meadows, 24. Jordan Brown, 30. Owain Abel, 33. Jayden Hatton.

Tries: Abram (2), Roberts (4), Waterworth (15), Wilkinson (20), Lepori (36,43), L.Hatton (38),

           Hansen (64)

Goals: Abram 4-6, Hansen 1-2.

Penalties: 3-10 to Lions

Referee: Brad Milligan