MATTY WILKINSON TO LEAVE LIONS ON A HIGH

13 October 2022

Swinton Lions can confirm that Matt Wilkinson will not be remaining at the club beyond the current year.

Matt, who joined us from Oldham last autumn, played an increasingly important role at hooker for the Lions, particularly in view of the long-term injuries sustained by Luke Waterworth and George Roby. Matt really came to prominence as the season came to its dramatic promotion conclusion, producing some great moments and performances, including a never-to-be forgotten 70 yards try at North Wales Crusaders.

After making 22 appearances for the Lions in 2022, it’s understood that Matt will shortly be moving to another north-west club.

Head coach Allan Coleman said, “Wilky is a real character and a player we are going to miss. He has been superb for us when it mattered most, and we wish him all the very best for next season.”

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RAM-PANT LIONS HIT HALF-CENTURY!

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SWINTON LIONS 50 DEWSBURY RAMS 22 IAN RIGG at Heywood Road, Sunday 21 April 2024 A nine try performance from the Lions gave them their second win in what was a must win game. They got off to a great start when Dec Patton slid a nice kick towards the right corner and Mitch Cox won the race to score but Patton was unable to convert from the touchline. Rams hit back virtually straight away when good pressure on the line saw Curtis Davies dive in by the posts and Callum Turner converted. They should really have scored again but some great defence by Tee Ritson and Dan Abram grounded the player just short. They did score their second on seventeen minutes when a nice pass by Matt Garside found Owen Restall and he scored by the posts with Turner converting again. Jayden Hatton scored the Lions second on twenty-six minutes when Patton sent up a hanging kick and the centre took it as it came down to score but again no conversion from Patton. The Lions halfback was now starting to control the ball even more and the Lions then scored two tries in three minutes with Josh Eaves who was making his one hundredth career appearance scoring the first from short range and then a Saints combination on the right when Jonny Vaughan sent out a nice pass for to Ritson who powered over in the corner and Patton converted both of them to give the Lions an eight point gap and they could have scored again on the half time hooter when Hatton put Eaves through a gap but it was forward. A disastrous start for the Lions in the second half when a nice kick from Turner bounced badly for Rhys Williams and ran away from him and this saw Brad Graham touch down by the posts and Turner converted to put his team right back in it. Daniel Spencer-Tonks then extended the Lions lead with a well taken try by the posts from an Eaves pass and Patton converted. Rams were not lying down and Turner and Restall combined to send Travis Corion in at the corner and Turner could not convert this one. The home side were coming stronger as the game went on and scored their next try just after the hour when Rams knocked on in their own twenty and from the scrum Williams went in at the corner and the conversion was good. Abram scored the next on sixty-six minutes after some great build up play down the right and again Patton converted. Rams then had more pressure on the line, and it took an interception by Cox to clear the line. Ronan Dixon was sent to the sinbin with three minutes left for a high shot on Hatton. The Lions made them pay heavily for the sinbin running in two more tries with firstly Spencer-Tonks again crashing in again by the posts from short range with Patton converting and with seconds left a great cross kick by Patton found Ritson and he collected the ball to race in at the corner with Patton adding the conversion after the hooter to secure a good victory for his side. LIONS 1 Dan Abram 32 Tee Ritson 29 Jonny Vaughan 4 Jayden Hatton 5 Rhys Williams 6 Dec Patton 7 Jordy Gibson 20 Jack Houghton 14 Josh Eaves 13 Mikey Wood 11 Gav Rodden 12 Mitch Cox 16 Lewis Hall Subs (all used) 35 Ben Hartill 24 Jordan Case 8 Liam Cooper 15 Daniel Spencer-Tonks Tries: Cox (3), Hatton (26), Eaves (31), Ritson (33,80), Spencer-Tonks (45,78), Williams (61), Abram (66) Goals: Patton 7/9 RAMS 1 Owen Restall 19 Travis Corion 22 Marcus Walker 3 Ollie Greensmith 5 Lewis Carr 7 Callum Turner 9 Jacob Hookem 8 Jimmy Beckett 20 Cutris Davies 10 Ronan Dixon 12 Matt Garside 11 Brad Graham 13 Louis Collinson Subs (all used) 29 Jack Bibby 27 Joe Hird 6 Paul Sykes 23 Bailey Dawson Tries: Davies (6), Restall (17), Graham (42), Corion (54) Goals: Turner 3/4 Sin-bin: Ronan Dixon (77) High tackle Swinton man-of-the-match: Daniel Spencer-Tonks Penalty count: 4-8 Half-time: 20-12 Referee: Nick Bennett Attendance: 894

MATTY WILKINSON TO LEAVE LIONS ON A HIGH

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