Match Report – Swinton Lions 4-34 Halifax Panthers

21 June 2021

Halifax Panthers continued their good run with a six try victory over the Lions who again put in a good performance but were held out many times by the rock steady Panthers defence.

Panthers made a strong start but blew early chances losing the ball in good positions but eventually took the lead on seventeen minutes when Gadwin Springer and Ben Kavanagh combined to send Scott Grix over under the posts and Liam Harris converted.

The Lions tried to hit back when Jack Hansen created a chance for Luis Roberts but the kick was well dealt with by James Woodburn-Hall. Roberts did get over the line a few minutes later but the final pass was forward and from this Panthers went down field and Grix added a second after some good attacking build up with Harris adding the conversion.

Grix almost scored his third on thirty-two minutes but was obstructed on the way to the line and from the penalty the ball moved swiftly across the line and Conor McGrath dived over by the corner flag but Harris hit the posts with his conversion attempt. Grix got over the line four minutes from the break but he was held up by Will Hope and from the play the ball again the ball was moved quickly to the right and McGrath went over for his second. Harris converted this one and they went into half-time with a good lead.

The Lions made a good start to the second half and Roberts, Rhodri Lloyd and Mitch Cox all had good chances but again the defence from Panthers held them out. McGrath had another good chance to score but he was knocked into touch from a great tackle by debutant Dan Clare but the pressure paid off eventually when Kavanagh was sent through a large gap by Harris to score on the left and the try provider added the conversion.

The Lions’ determination eventually paid off on fifty-six minutes when a good passing movement ended with Luis Roberts diving in at the corner but Ridyard could not convert from the touchline. An incident was put on report just after the hour mark when Nick Rawsthorne seemed to be the victim of a crusher tackle and from the penalty, play moved down field and Amir Bourouh raced away to beat the Lions defence and score by the posts and Harris added the simple conversion.

Swinton prop forward Tom Spencer was sent to the sin bin five minutes from time for an obstruction and again from the penalty Panthers thought they had scored but Springer was pulled back for a forward pass. Both sides again had chances in the dying minutes of the game but neither could score and the large following of Panthers fans went home happy.

Ian Rigg at Heywood Road

LIONS

1 Mike Butt

28 Dan Clare (D)

3 Mitch Cox

11 Rhodri Lloyd

25 Luis Roberts

6 Martyn Ridyard

7 Jack Hansen

8 Sam Brooks

9 Luke Waterworth

39 Tom Spencer

13 Will Hope

12 Nick Gregson

14 Billy Brickhill

Subs (all used)

15 Louis Brogan

26 Jordan Brown

16 Paddy Jones

19 Deane Meadows

Try: Roberts (56)

PANTHERS

4 James Woodburn-Hall

2 Nick Rawsthorne

3 Greg Worthington

21 Zack McComb

19 Conor McGrath

6 Liam Harris

1 Scott Grix

15 Gadwin Springer

9 Brandon Moore

10 Daniel Murray

17 Ben Kavanagh

11 Matt Garside

25 Adam Tangata

Subs (all used)

22 Amir Bourouh

14 Kevin Larroyer

16 Will Calcott

8 Elliot Morris

Tries: Grix (16,29), McGrath (32,38), Kavanagh (52),Bourouh (61)

Goals: Harris 5/6