Match report – Wigan St. Patricks vs Swinton Lionesses

20 June 2022

Wigan St. Patricks  10          Swinton Lionesses  34

Alan Dixon at Clarington Park

The unbeaten Swinton Lionesses were made to work hard for the victory by bottom of the table Wigan St. Patricks.

They got off to a dream start after St. Patricks failed to recover the kick off and the ball went into touch. From the resulting scrum, the ball found its way out to Maddie Higson  to score out wide. Georgia Cunliffe missed the conversion. From the restart, the Lionesses went back on the attack. After a penalty for a high tackle on Mia Atherton, the ball was moved out wide and the ball found its way to Maddie Corrigan who raced away to score under the posts. Georgia Cunliffe converted and the Lionesses led 10-0 after 5 minutes. The Lionesses continued to attack the line, but were denied by stubborn St. Patricks defence. St. Patricks managed to attack the Lionesses line after 11 minutes with Chloe Myers going close. A mistake by St. Patricks resulted on a scrum on the Swinton 10 metre line. The ball was moved up- field and Ellie Thirkell ran 60 metres to score near the posts after handing off the fullback. Georgia Cunliffe converted to make it 16-0. The Lionesses attacked again from the kick off. A good run by Maddie Corrigan resulted in the ball being moved across field to find Rebecca Roden who scored out wide. Georgia Cunliffe converted to make it 22-0 after 17 minutes.

St. Patricks lost the in the 21st minute whilst attempting to get out of their own half. The ball was recovered by the Lionesses. It was moved out to Maddie Higson who raced 35 metres to score by the posts. Georgia Cunliffe converted and the Lionesses led 28-0. St. Patricks eventually got on the scoreboard after 28 minutes. After pressurising the Swinton line, they put on a switch move which enabled Robyn Birchall to score in the corner. Sarah Harrison missed the conversion and the Lionesses led 28-4 at the break.

Defences dominated the second half. The Lionesses suffered a double blow with Ashley Deas and Maddie Corrigan both going off injured in the 50th and 53rd minutes. The St. Patricks was eventually breached in the 60th minute. Swinton won a scum in their own half. The ball was moved out to Mia Atherton who broke through the St. Patricks tackles and race 50 metres to the line to score under the posts. Georgia Cunliffe converted to make it 34-4. Both defences continued to hold out. St. Patricks eventually breached the Lionesses defence in the last minute. They moved the ball 70 metres down field for Naoimh Gill-Ward to score under the posts. Sarah Harrison converted  to make the final score 34-10.

Teams :

Wigan St. Patricks : Naoimh Gill-Ward, Robyn Birchall, Katie Sandison, Ollie Forbes, Emily Morris, Michelle Woodcock, Sarah Harrison, Milaina Bretherton, Aimee Rice, Elizabeth Batchelor, Elisha-Marie Foster, Hannah Goulbourne, Chloe Myers. SUBS : Chloe Hammond, Jayne, Robinson

Tries : Birchall (28), Gill-Ward (79)

Goals : Harrison 1

Swinton Lionesses : Maddie Higson, Izzy Birds, Mia Atherton, Maddie Corrigan, Daisy-Mai Pearson, Ashley Deas, Ellie Thirkell, Abbie Parkes-Holden, Patrycja Baranek, Emily Haley, Chloe Birkett, Rebecca Roden, Georgia Cunliffe. SUBS : Leah Christian, Molly Ross, Jo Mullins, Catherine Sweeney, Mollie Scotson, Morgan Corrigan, Holly Grimes

Tries : Higson (1,21), Maddie Corrigan (5), Thirkell (14), Roden (17), Atherton (60)

Goals : Cunliffe 5

Pens : 8-3                  Half Time : 4-28