Match Report – Swinton Lions 16-26 Widnes Vikings

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