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3 weeks ago
19 September 2021
The Vikings followed up their victory against the Bulls with a hard-fought win against the Lions which saw Matt Cook and Paul Clough make their final career appearances and Referee Gareth Hewer controlling his last game before retirement.
The Vikings brought a large following and made a bright start stretching the Lions defence with their early attacks before Lions’ hooker Luke Waterworth was held up on thirteen minutes. From the restart the ball moved swiftly left and Geronimo Doyle linked into the line to score on the wing, but Martyn Ridyard was unable to convert.
The Vikings hit back four minutes later when Lewis Else fed Adam Lawton to score on the left and Jack Owens converted. They scored again quickly when Deon Cross finished off a good passing movement to go over in the right corner, but Owens could not convert this one.
Will Hope had a good chance for the Lions four minutes from the break, but the ball went to ground with the line open and it was the Vikings who finished the half strongly when Lawton found Stephen Tyrer with a nice short pass and he went over in the corner, but again no conversion from Owens.
The Lions made an excellent start to the second half when some good build up passing led to Rhodri Lloyd finding the supporting Mitch Cox who raced away to score with Ridyard converting. They were starting to take control of the game, but it was the Vikings who scored next when they kept the ball alive on the last tackle and Jayden Hatton crossed on the left converted off the touchline by Owens.
Mike Butt looked all on to score on the left on the hour but a great tackle by Cross managed to knock him into touch. This seemed to change the momentum for the Vikings and Lewis Hulme went over from close range five minutes later again converted by Owens. Ben Heyes then pulled off a try saving tackle on Joe Lyons before Jake Spedding went over only to have the try cancelled out for a forward pass by Hatton.
The Lions scored the try of the match with just three minutes left after nearly all the team touched the ball before Reece Hamlett scored in the right corner and Ridyard added the conversion from the touchline, but it was too late to make any impression on the scoreboard. Both sides put on a guard of honour for Cook and Clough who have retired as they left the field.
Ian Rigg at Heywood Road
LIONS
22 Geronimo Doyle
21 Ben Heyes
11 Rhodri Lloyd
1 Mike Butt
39 Reece Hamlett
6 Martyn Ridyard
12 Nick Gregson
14 Billy Brickhill
9 Luke Waterworth
10 Lewis Hatton
3 Mitch Cox
13 Will Hope
15 Lewis Brogan
Subs (all used)
24 Paul Nash
19 Deane Meadows
40 Ronan Michael
26 Jordan Brown
Tries: Doyle (23), Cox (47), Hamlett (77)
Goals: Ridyard 2/3
VIKINGS
1 Jack Owens
5 Deon Cross
18 Lloyd Roby
4 Steve Tyrer
2 Jayden Hatton
23 Lewis Else
17 Joe Lyons
13 Kenny Baker
30 Lewis Hulme
24 Will Tilleke
19 Joe Edge
12 Adam Lawton
7 Matty Smith
Subs (all used)
10 Matt Cook
31 Aiden Roden
8 Paul Clough
3 Jake Spedding
Tries: Lawton (27), Cross (31), Tyrer (39), Hatton (53), Hulme (65)
Goals: Owens 3/5
