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BATLEY BULLDOGS 16 SWINTON LIONS 30

IAN RIGG Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, Sunday

A superb performance by the Lions gave them a deserved victory over the Bulldogs on their home turf for the first time in seven years. Lions coach Allan Coleman made changes to his team after the narrow defeat by Newcastle and the Bulldogs also had to reshuffle after losing some of his squad to injury in their defeat in London last week, but don’t take anything away from the Lions performance playing up the slope in the first half they took an early lead when Dan Abram landed a twenty-metre penalty goal for obstruction. They went further ahead on sixteen minutes when Gav Rodden won a one on one ball steal in the Bulldogs twenty and a few passes later Rhodri Lloyd sent Mike Butt over in the left corner but Abram could not convert from the touchline.

Bulldogs then started to get into the game and hooker Ben Kaye was held up on twenty-two minutes and they scored their opening try three minutes later when Lucas Walshaw went over on the right but James Meadows could not convert. Morgan Burgess then went close for the Lions before Bulldogs controversially took the lead on thirty-two minutes when they put up a high kick from around half way and the Bulldogs chasing pack down the left looked offside to the naked eye and as the ball came down Jayden Hatton went for it but collided with the Bulldogs winger and the ball bounced to the hands of Dane Manning who raced in at the corner against the protests from the side lines and Meadows added the conversion to this one. The Lions finished the half strongly and had a couple of chances before the break with Andy Badrock going closest. It had been an outstanding defensive display from Allan Colemans team to go in only four points behand at the break.

The home side had the better start to the second half playing up the slope and went further ahead on forty-seven minutes when Kieran Buchanan finished off a passing movement to score on the left with Meadows again on target with the conversion.

The Lions then too control of the game with Louis Brogan going close of fifty-four minutes and Abram also four minutes later. Josh Eaves scored his first Lions try just after the hour when he darted over to the left of the posts after Kenny Baker had gone close and Abram converted. Try of the match came on sixty-three minutes when Rodden broke down the right leaving Manning in his wake before drawing Meadows and handing the ball onto the supporting Badrock and he raced away to score under the posts with Abram converting.

Young Saints prop George Delaney had an impressive debut for the Lions cutting huge holes in the Bulldogs defence and Louis Brogan was doing the same. The Lions fourth try came on seventy minutes when the won their first scrum of the match in the Bulldogs thirty and Abram linked with the attack to take on several defenders near the line to twist over and score on the right and add the conversion too. Bulldogs had a chance with six minutes left but Nyle Flynn was held up but it was the Lions who scored again with two minutes left when again Rodden exploited a gap in the Bulldogs defence to race through and send the supporting Ollie Olds away to score his first Lions try under the posts in front of the noisy Lions fans and Abram converted again to cement a fine performance for the team.

Teams:

BULLDOGS – Meadows, Johnson, Walshaw, Buchanan, Campbell, White, Woods, Hirst, Kaye, Gledhill, Flynn, Manning, Blake. SUBS- Leak, Reilly, Lillycrop, Ward.

Tries: Walshaw (25), Manning (32), Buchanan (47)

Goals: Meadows 2/3

LIONS – Abram, Butt, Lloyd, Badrock, Hatton, Olds, Gibson, Baker, Waterworth, Delaney, Cox, Rodden, Brogan. SUBS- Eaves, Case, Cooper, Burgess.

Tries: Butt (16), Eaves (61), Badrock (63), Abram (70), Olds (78)

Goals: 5/6

Referee:  Aaron Moore Pens: 8-4 Half-time: 10-6

News

SWINTON LIONS 6 NEWCASTLE THUNDER 18

Thunder took the points in a tough encounter with a strong performance against the Lions. The visitors started strongly and had a good early pressure on the line but some good defence matched their efforts and the first real chance came on nine minutes when Jordy Gibson put a kick to the corner but Andy Badrock could not control the bounce and knocked on over the line. Again Thunder came strong and the Lions defence had to show their metal to stop Marcus Walker as he went for the corner but was just knocked into touch. Another chance came the Lions way on sixteen minutes but again they lost the ball just metres from the line. Brad Gallagher was held up for Thunder and then Alex Young could have scored in the corner but the final pass sailed over his head before Alex Foster too had a good chance but lost the ball short of the line. Joey Romeo had a chance for the Lions five minutes from the break, but he too lost the ball and this set up a good position for Thunder and this saw winger Alex Clegg cross in the corner but was brought back for a double movement. The deadlock was finally broken two minute from the break when some good play down the right saw Badrock dummy the defence to score in the right corner but the conversion attempt from Nick Gregson hit the crossbar and it bounced out as the half time hooter sounded.

The Lions started better in the second half but again they made a handling error when Liam Cooper lost the ball in a good position and the chance went. Luke Waterworth then went close for the Lions but his final pass ended up in the hands of a Thunder defender who cleared the line. Thunder took the lead on fifty-six minutes when good passing got Alex Young over in the left corner and Nikau Williams added a great conversion from the touchline. Gav Rodden then went over for the Lions but he was offside from the kick trough but on sixty-three minutes Gregson levelled the scores with a penalty goal. The Lions were now starting to put pressure on the line and Rhodri Lloyd thought he had scored on the left only to be held up. Both defences played really well and Williams went for a drop goal with seven minutes left only to have it charged down by Josh Eaves but this gave them the springboard to finish the game stronger and more good passing saw Young add his second try in the corner with five minutes left and Williams again converted from the touchline before Williams made victory safe when he again went for a drop goal but this time sold a huge dummy to several defenders to score to the right of the posts and convert as the final hooter sounded.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

26 Joey Romeo

  3 Jake Spedding

22 Andy Badrock

11 Rhodri Lloyd

  2 Mike Butt

  6 Nick Gregson

  7 Jordy Gibson

  8 Gavin Bennion

14 Josh Eaves

10 Kenny Baker

12 Mitch Cox

16 Gav Rodden

13 Louis Brogan

Subs (all used)

  9 Luke Waterworth

15 Jordan Case

18 Liam Cooper

19 Ollie Olds

18^th MAN

  1 Dan Abram

Try: Badrock (38)

Goals: 0/2

THUNDER

  1 Jack Johnson

  5 Alex Clegg

  3 Marcus Walker

26 Mac Walsh

  2 Alex Young

  6 Alex Donaghy

  7 Nikau Williams

  8 Jay Chapelhow

  9 Curtis Davies

10 Mitch Clark

11 Alex Foster

12 Brad Gallagher

13 Connor Bailey

Subs (all used)

14 Denive Balmforth

15 Ted Chapelhow

16 Rhys Clarke

23 Connor Moore

18^th MAN

22 Jake Anderson

Tries: Young (56,75), Williams (79)

Goals: Williams 3/3

Penalties: 6-6 Half-time: 6-18

Referee: Ryan Cox Attendance: 877

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0,4-6,6-6,6-12,6-18

News

Lionesses promoted to the Championship !

We are delighted to confirm that following a highly successful campaign in 2022, during which they finished second in the League 1 table, our Swinton Lionesses have been promoted to the Championship for the upcoming 2023 season! The Lionesses will now take part in the 10-team competition with a first match scheduled for 12th March.

After a strong debut league season in 2022, it is a fantastic achievement for our Lionesses to be promoted to the Championship, where they will now face established names such as Widnes Vikings, Hull FC, Hull Kingston Rovers, Sheffield Eagles and Wakefield Trinity.

The club’s Director of Development, Damian Ridpath, said, “To get promoted with such a young team is great testimony to the determination and skill of our players, and to the hard work put in by coaches Martina Greenwood and Steve Thirkell and their support staff. No doubt we will face some stern tests later this year, but the club as a whole is really looking forward to supporting the Lionesses as we have done since their inception. If you have never attended a Lionesses game, I can thoroughly recommend that you do so. The entertainment is top quality and we have some tremendous talent within the team. We hope to stage some double-headers at Heywood Road during the summer.”

News

Swinton Lions launch Greater Manchester Anti- Hate Crime Week 2023

Swinton Lions and our fans stand against hate crime. Please join us on Sunday 3pm @ Heywood Rd, Sale M33 3WB to show your support and stand united against all types of hate crime in Greater Manchester.

For the 2023 season the anti-hate campaign, messaging and branding will be supported in all Swinton Lions Rugby League club and Lions Foundation banners, website information, match day video messaging and stadium messaging.

What is hate crime?

A hate crime incident is an offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offender’s hatred of someone because of their:

• race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins

• religion

• gender identity

• sexual orientation

• disability

• alternative sub-culture (for example, goth or rocker)

What might we experience and see in our community?

• physical attacks – to people or property, including offensive graffiti or arson

• the threat of attack – including offensive letters, telephone calls, online messages or groups of people hanging around to intimidate

• verbal abuse or insults – including offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures and bullying at school or in the workplace

Hate incidents can be verbal abuse but if the victim feels threatened or is caused distress, this could become a hate crime.

Why tackle it?

Even if we are not the target of hate crime it can make us feel less safe in our community, hate crime affects us all. We can support our fellow community members to report and get support.

Data shows that year on year, the number of hate crimes are increasing, with a 26 % increase last year. That is why we work in partnership with sporting organisations and the police to tackle hate crime and support victims.

How to report and get support

News

SALFORD RED DEVILS  26 SWINTON LIONS  22

IAN RIGG A.J.Bell Stadium, Sunday

The Red Devils retained the Peter Smethurst Memorial Trophy with a strong first half performance against the Lions who completed a three match warm up run ahead of their season opener against Newcastle Thunder next week. The home side used a total of thirty-seven players in the match and the Lions fielded twenty-one so everyone got minutes on the field. Salford took the lead after just three minutes when the Lions lost the ball in their own twenty and Tim Lafai found Rhys Williams who went over in the left corner and Marc Sneyd added the conversion off the touchline. Six minutes later they were in again when a good passing movement after a penalty saw Ken Sio go over on the right but this time no conversion. Try of the match came on fourteen minutes when Brodie Croft made a nice break down centre field and he drew the Lions fullback before offloading to Andy Ackers and he scored under the posts with Sneyd converting. Sneyd set up the next try when he intercepted a Lions pass in his own half to break but was tackled twenty metres short but from the play the ball he found Ellis Longstaff and he scored on the right with a good conversion again from Sneyd. The fifth try came four minutes from the break after some good passing and Ryan Brierley crossed on the right but not convert his own try.

Salford made ten changes at the break just leaving Andy Ackers, Matty Costello and Amir Bourah on the field from the first half and it was the Lions who took control in the second half but after a slow start the scored their opener after fifty minutes when Joe Lowe darted over from close range and Dan Abram added the conversion. Jack Stevens crossed for Salford five minutes later but was brought back for a forward pass and the chance went. Anthony Dyne added the second Lions try after sixty-six minutes after a good break by Mike Butt and Nick Gregson was unable to convert. As the game progressed the Lions got stronger and added a third try six minutes from time when Gavin Bennion crashed over under the posts with Gregson converting. Four minutes later they were in again after some good play by Rhodri Lloyd and Gregson that saw Joey Romeo go over on the left and Gregson again converted. The Lions could have snatched victory in the final minute when Josh Eaves broke through on thirty metres but there was an obstruction in the build-up. Lions coach Allan Coleman was happy to keep his defence intact in the second half and Paul Rowley would also have been happy keeping the Lions scoreless in the first half.

MATCHFACTS

RED DEVILS

  1 Ryan Brierley

  2 Ken Sio

28 Deon Cross

  4 Tim Lafai

22 Rhys Williams

  6 Brodie Croft

  7 Marc Sneyd

18 Alex Gerrard

  9 Andy Ackers

16 Tyler Dupree

11 Andrew Dixon

20 Ellis Longstaff

17 Shane Wright

Subs (all used)

  8 Jack Ormondroyd

10 King Vuniyawa

13 Ollie Partington

14 Chris Atkin

21 Amir Bourouh

24 Matt Costello

26 James Greenwood

30 Billy Walkley

31 Nathan Connell

29 Joseph Coope-Franklin

32 Mason Phillips

  5 Nathan Taylor

23 Jack Stevens

19 Toby Hughes

37 Jordan Brown

40 Fin Yates

38 Chris Worrall

36 Jacob Lee

35 Matt Unsworth

34 Rhys Davies

25 Henry Davies

33 Matt Rudd

27 Euan Haynes

39 Alex Davidson

Tries: Williams (3), Sio (9), Ackers (14), Longstaff (23), Brierley (36)

Goals: Sneyd  3/4

Brierley 0/1

LIONS

  1 Dan Abram

28 Callum Hughes

22 Andy Badrock

26 Joey Romeo

  5 Mike Butt

19 Ollie Olds

  7 Jordy Gibson

10 Kenny Baker

14 Josh Eaves

  8 Gavin Bennion

11 Rhodri Lloyd

12 Mitch Cox

13 Louis Brogan

Subs: (all used)

23 Joe Lowe

  6 Nick Gregson

29 Anthony Dyne

  9 Luke Waterworth

15 Jordan Case

20 Morgan Burgess

18 Liam Cooper

16 Gav Rodden

Tries: Lowe (50), Dyne (66), Bennion (74), Romeo (78)

Goals: Abram 1/1

Gregson 2/3

Penalty Count: 5-6 Half-time: 26-0

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas Attendance: 1807

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0,10-0,16-0,22-0,26-0,26-6,26-10,26-16,26-22

News

ST HELENS RESERVES 24 SWINTON LIONS 32

IAN RIGG​ Ruskin Drive, Sunday

The young Saints team put in a great performance in freezing conditions to give the Lions a tough work out in their second warm up game. The game was moved from the Totally Wicked Stadium owing to a frozen pitch and the fans turned out in good numbers. The Lions took the lead virtually with their first attack following a penalty on their own half they moved down field and Gav Rodden went over on the right following a good passing movement with Nick Gregson adding the conversion but the young Saints side hit back with and forced the Lions to defend their own line for three sets twice forcing goal line drop outs. They did level the scores on sixteen minutes when Jayden Hatton seemed to lose control of the ball near his own line and Will Roberts picked up the loose ball to race in at the corner and he also landed the conversion from the touchline. The game was fairly even with both teams having good periods before Gavin Bennion scored under the posts from close range for the Lions and Gregson again converted. This try was quickly followed by a second from Rodden after a good break from Mike Butt up the left side but this time debutant Joey Romeo tried the conversion but the kick sailed wide. The impressive Roberts grabbed a second for his side two minutes from the break when he chipped the ball through a gap in the Lions defence and chased it to regather and score under the posts and then add the conversion.

Both sides were making constant changes and it was a good run out for everyone and it was the Lions who scored first in the second half when another good passing movement saw trialist Callum Hughes cross in the left corner but Dan Abram who had taken over the goal kicking sent his conversion wide. It looked like the Lions were going to pull away when Morgan Burgess twisted his way over the line on forty-nine minutes and Dan Abram added this conversion. Wes Bruineswas held up on fifty-eight minutes before a ball handling error down then left by Saints just after the hour lost them a chance to score. Another attack down the left by the Lions forced a goal line drop out but they could not capitalise and it was the home side who scored next when Keane Gilford set up a nice ball for Ciaran Nolan to score by the posts and Dan Moss added the simple conversion and it got even better for the home side with four minutes to go when Bruines raced sixty metres to score under the posts and Moss again added the conversion to bring his side within two points of the Lions and sniff a chance of victory but Kenny Baker scored under the posts for the Lions with a minute left on the clock after selling a big dummy  to the defence and Abram converted as the referee blew the final whistle. Saints are the Lions dual registration partners for the coming season and there are some very talented young players coming through the ranks.

MATCHFACTS

SAINTS

 1 Harvey Braddish

 2 Keane Gilford

34 Wesley Bruines

 4 Dayon Sambou

 5 Alfie Whittle

 6 Dan Moss

 7 Will Roberts

 8 Lewis Baxter

 9 Jake Burns

10 George Delaney

11 McKenzie Buckley

12 Alfie Pyke

13 Kalan Devine

Subs (all used)

14 Ciaran Nolan

15 Nathan Bannerman

16 Leunbou Bardyel-Wells

17 Leon Cowen

33 Eliot Peposhi

19 Brett Bailey

31 Kelvin Ojeaburu

30 Logan Milne

Tries: Roberts (16,38), Nolan (71), Bruines (76)

Goals: Roberts 2/2

​Moss 2/2

LIONS

26 Joey Romeo

24 Myles Harrop

22 Andy Badrock

 3 Jake Spedding

 4 Jayden Hatton

 6 Nick Gregson

23 Joe Lowe

10 Kenny Baker

14 Josh Eaves

15 Jordan Case

11 Rhodri Lloyd

16 Gav Rodden

18 Liam Cooper

Subs (all used)

 1 Dan Abram

 2 Mike Butt

28 Callum Hughes

29 Anthony Dyne

19 Ollie Olds

20 Morgan Burgess

 9 Luke Waterworth

 8 Gavin Bennion

12 Mitch Cox

13 Louis Brogan

25 Scott Parnaby

Tries: Rodden (3,28), Bennion (25), Hughes (42), Burgess (49), Baker (79)

Goals: Gregson 2/2

​Romeo 0/1

​Abram 2/3

Penalty count:​1-6​Half-time: 12-16

Referee: Matthew Lynn​​

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6,6-6,6-12,6-16,12-16,12-20,12-26, 18-26,24-26,24-32.

News

SWINTON LIONS 44 MIDLANDS HURRICANES 10

SWINTON LIONS 44

MIDLANDS HURRICANES 10

IAN RIGG Heywood Road, Sunday

The Lions produced an eight-try performance in a very competitive warm up game in which the Hurricanes showed they will have a promising season with some good play. The Lions were on the attack straight from the kick off when Hurricanes carried the ball dead to put the putting pressure on the line and Mitch Cox had a try disallowed in only the second minute for a knock on in the build-up, but they did open their account two minutes later when trialist Joe Lowe burst over the line from short range and Nick Gregson converted. Louis Brogan was held up on ten minutes but on the next tackle Gregson put in a measured kick for Josh Eaves to chase and score and Gregson converted this one too. Hurricanes then had a chance from a Lions error at the restart but lost the ball on the second tackle. Another Hurricanes error on sixteen minutes presented the Lions with a chance to score and they took it when Anthony Dyne crossed in the left corner and again Gregson converted. Matt Welham then went close for the visitors before Myles Harrop added the next Lions try in the corner, but this went unconverted. Welham then scored the Hurricanes opener when Richard Wilkinson sent out a looping pass for him to score in the corner and Ben Stead converted. Dyne then added his second before the break after another good passing movement and Gregson converted to give his side a good lead at the break.

Hurricanes made a good start to the second half with pressure on the Lions line helped by a couple of penalties that got them down field but again the crucial pass went to ground, before Dom Flanagan came close to scoring for his side but lost the ball as he reached for the line. The Lions took control again on fifty-two minutes when Gav Rodden sent out a short pass for Andrew Badrock to score on the right, but Gregson was unable to convert this one. Hurricanes were playing some exciting rugby and they added their second try four minutes later when a nice kick by Wilkinson was finished off well by winger Desmond Appiah-Kubi in the right corner, but Stead was unable to convert. They were coming strong again and once again ball handling let them down at the last tackle, but Wilkinson kept probing to get his side over the line. The Lions finished strongly with firstly Cox crossing the line on seventy-one minutes after a nice pass by Kenny Baker and Gregson converted this one too, and Gregson turned provider for the last try with a superb, measured kick to the left corner which was finished off superbly by trialist Callum Hughes and Gregson capped off his day with a touchline conversion and an impressive display by the Lions.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

  2 Mike Butt

24 Myles Harrop

22 Andrew Badrock

  4 Jayden Hatton

29 Anthony Dyne

  6 Nick Gregson

23 Joe Lowe

  8 Gavin Bennion

14 Josh Eaves

10 Kenny Baker

12 Mitch Cox

16 Gav Rodden

13 Louis Brogan

Subs (all used)

  1 Dan Abram (NU)

  3 Jake Spedding

28 Callum Hughes

15 Jordan Case

21 Jonny Openshaw

18 Liam Cooper

11 Rhodri Lloyd

20 Morgan Burgess

25 Scott Parnaby

Tries: Lowe (4), Eaves (11), Dyne (16,34), Harrop (22), Badrock (52),

Cox (71), Hughes (75)

Goals: Gregson 6/8

HURRICANES

  1 Nathan Hill

  2 Desmond Appiah-Kubi

  3 Matt Welham

15 Macauley Hallett

  5 Callum Dunne

  6 Ben Stead

  7 Richard Wilkinson

17 Matt Bailey

  9 Elliott Windley

10 Kieran Moran

13 Liam Welham

12 Conner Gilbey

  8 Brad Clavering

Subs: (all used)

23 Chris Cullimore

14 Jack Dawson

24 Jacob Beer

11 Sam Bowring

18 Dominic Flanagan

21 Dan Coates

  4 Sam Richards

Tries: M.Welham (28), Appiah-Kubi (56)

Goals: Stead ½

Sin-bin: Moran (70) Interference

Penalties: 3-4 Half-time: 28-6

Referee:  Matthew Lynn Attendance: 458

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0,12-0,18-0,22-0,22-6,28-6,32-6,32-10,38-10,44-10

News

Calum Hughes to trial with the Lions

Swinton Lions are in the process of giving winger Calum Hughes a trial period at Heywood Road.

Calum is 27 years old and has been a stand-out performer for the Ince Rosebridge club in the National Conference League Division 1 over recent seasons.

He comes to us highly recommended, and Head Coach Allan Coleman will be looking to assess his capabilities ahead of our league opener against Newcastle Thunder on 5^th February.

News

Aussie Joe trials with the Lions!

The Lions are in the process of offering a trial to Joe Lowe who is set to get some game time in our upcoming pre-season friendlies.

Although born at Wigan 21 years ago, Joe has spent the latter half of his life growing up in Australia, and for the past three years has been playing his rugby league with the Sunshine Coast Falcons. The Falcons compete in the Queensland Cup and have an affiliation with Melbourne Storm.

Joe still has family in the Wigan area, and was looking to develop his immediate rugby career in England, and having done his research felt that the Lions were a potential fit for both himself and the club. Joe mainly plays as a full-back, but is also effective elsewhere in the backs.

Swinton Lions Head Coach Allan Coleman, said, “Joe approached the club last month from where he was based in Australia to ask about an opportunity for 2023. We did some research on Joe and then asked him to join us for pre-season training. He has since proved to be a popular lad amongst the squad, and has demonstrated that he’s got the potential as well as the skills and temperament to play both full-back or half-back. We will see how things go during the remainder of our pre-season and then sit down with Joe ahead of the start of our league campaign.”