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LIONESSES EDGED OUT ON HISTORIC DAY
Swinton Lionesses 14 Fryston Warriors 26
Alan Dixon at Manchester Regional Arena
On a historic day for the Swinton Lionesses, they took to the field at the fantastic surroundings of the Manchester Regional Arena against opponents Fryston Warriors Women.
Injuries in the warm up caused Steve Thirkell to adjust the Lionesses line up, but they still put up a commendable performance against a strong Fryston team.
The Lionesses were the first to threaten the try line. Back to back penalties allowed the Lionesses to threaten the Fryston line but, they could not get through the defence and had to hand the ball over. Fryston tried to move the ball away from their own line but could only knock on. From the scrum, the ball was moved out to Lottie Meacham to race 20 metres to score near the posts. Libby Clarke added the extras to give the Lionesses a 6-0 lead after 7 minutes. It was now Fryston’s turn to put pressure on the Lionesses line. They forced the Lionesses to drop out in the 17th minute. Two minutes later they were in when the ball was moved out to Alice Pye who scored in the corner. Lillie-Grace Sutton was unable to convert.
Fryston went into the lead in the 23rd minute. The Lionesses gave away a penalty. This allowed Fryston to drive the ball to line. Ellena Powell sliced through the Lionesses defence to score. Again Lillie-Grace Sutton was unable to convert and Fryston now led 8-6. The Lionesses went back downfield and put pressure on Fryston’s line. A good handling move by Emma Dwyer, Ellie Thirkell and Mollee-Anne Pickering ended in the latter being tackled just short of the line. The pressure paid off in the 36th minute. Fryston were penalised for a high tackle. From the tap, Emma Dwyer passed the ball out to Lucy Baggaley who crashed over in the corner. Emily Haley was unable to convert and the Lionesses now led 10-8.
The second half started brightly for the Lionesses. They won a penalty for a high tackle in the 42nd minute. The ball was moved downfield. Emily Haley went for the corner but the covering defence tackled her into touch in goal as she tried to score. Six minutes later Fryston recovered a Lionesses kick and moved the ball out wide for the winger to go on a run. A great cover tackle by Olivia Harborow took the winger into touch. The Lionesses lead was extended in the 57th minute. Fryston knocked on near their own line. From the scrum, Emma Dwyer fed the ball to Ellie Thirkell who raced through the Fryston defence to score under the posts. She could not convert her own try. The Lionesses conceded back to back penalties which allowed Kirsty Higo to crash over by the posts in the 67th minute. Lillie-Grace Sutton converted to level up the scores. Fryston went back in front in the 74th minute. The Lionesses knocked the ball on near their own line. From the scrum, Skye Robinson broke through two tackles to score. Lillie-Grace Sutton converted. The Lionesses were back on the attack in the final minute but their kick through went straight in Fryston hands and Ellena Powell went on a 70 metre run before being tackled. From the play the ball, the ball was moved out to Evie Gray to score. Lillie-Grace Sutton converted to increase the Fryston lead.
Swinton Lionesses:
Lottie Meacham, Tiffany Ho, Olivia Harborow, Libby Clarke, Alexsis Smith, Mollee-Anne Pickering, Ellie Thirkell, Aimie Toher, Emma Dwyer, Lucy Baggaley, Lydia Elstone, Emily Haley, Maddie Price. Subs: Isabel Birds, Laura Bent, Catherine Sweeney, Chloe Lyons, Leah Christian.
Tries: Meacham (7), Baggaley (36), Thirkell (57)
Goal: Clarke 1
Fryston Warriors Women : Sophia Liu, Alice Pye, Kaitlyn Pycroft, Isabella Naylor, Ebony Sutton, Ellena Powell, Lillie-Grace Sutton, Kirsty Higo, Skye Robinson, Millen Downs, Lacey Sefton-Appleyard, Mataya Dale, Evie Gray. Subs: Marnie Wrigley, Ruby Lockwood, Kacey Davies, Chloe Nash, Bethany Simpson.
Tries: Pye (19), Powell (23), Higo (67), Robinson (74), Gray (79).
Goals: Sutton 3
Penalties: 11-7
Half Time: 10-8