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93rd Anniversary of Station Road opening

Today,  2^nd March, marks the exact 93^rd Anniversary of the opening of our iconic Station Road ground back in 1929. 

On that historic occasion, Swinton, who were then reigning All-5-Cups holders, would face Wigan before a huge crowd in excess of 20,000. The game took place on a hard and frosty Station Road pitch, whilst the ground itself far from finished. The Townsend Road stand, which had been moved plank by plank from the Chorley Road ground still had a big gap in it, whilst the terraces were still in the process of being banked up with ashes from the Pendlebury coal field. But nevertheless it was an exciting and historic day in the history of the club, and those attending were about to witness a game that was befitting of the occasion.

The honour of scoring the ground’s first-ever points went to Martin Hodgson, who landed a huge penalty from nearly the half-way line. Martin added a second penalty just before half-time to leave Swinton 4-0 up at the break. But late in the second half, it would be a Wigan player who scored the stadium’s first try – the honour going to Roy Kinnear, son of the famous actor with the same name. There were only 5 minutes to go at this stage, but Wigan’s famous international full-back Jim Sullivan missed the potential match winning conversion. It was a costly miss by Sullivan, because with a couple of minutes left on the clock, the Lions’ winger Frank Buckingham jinked inside for a sensational try which shook the new ground to its rafters. Martin Hodgson added the extras and the Lions had won by 9 points to 3.

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Will Hope departs Lions to join Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue service

We wish to confirm that Will Hope has been accepted into the Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service. Clearly this is a fantastic career opportunity for Will. We are very proud of him and he has the full support of everyone at Swinton Lions.

It’s the intention of the club to retain Will’s registration in case it becomes possible for him to be available for selection at some point later in the season. Over the next few days we will bring you more detail via our official platforms regarding Will, including interviews etc and how supporters will get the opportunity to formally thank Will for his service to the club. In the meantime we are sure our supporters will join the club in wishing Will all the very best in his future career.

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Match Report – Swinton Lions vs North Wales Crusaders

SWINTON LIONS 14

NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 20

IAN RIGG Heywood Road Sunday

The Crusaders booked themselves a home tie against Hunslet in the next round following a good performance against the Lions who had fought hard to get themselves a slender lead, but the visitors bounced back to score two late tries and take the spoils.

Crusaders took the lead in the third minute when a great passing movement saw centre Harry Swarbrick crash over on the right but the conversion from Brad Billsborough fell wide. The Lions tried to hit back quickly but Will Hope in a great position knocked on near the line. The Lions were getting penalised a lot in the early stages and after three on the bounce Swarbrick added his second of the afternoon to stretch the lead again going over on the right, but the conversion attempt again fell wide from Billsborough. Hope was sent to the sin bin on eighteen minutes for backchat and from this penalty Crusaders almost scored again when Dante Morley-Samuels and Rob Massam combined well down the left, but the final pass was forward and the chance was blown.

Chris Barratt was sent to the bin for a shoulder charge on twenty-four minutes and a couple of minutes later the Lions hit back when Lewis Else and Mitch Cox combined to send Mike Butt over on the left, but Dan Abram could not convert. Brad Brennan got over for Crusaders just before the break but was grounded on his back.

The Lions came out in the second half with the words of coach Allan Coleman ringing in their ears and this seemed to have worked when Rhodri Lloyd went over on the right to score and level the scores but again the wind was too tricky for the conversion. The Lions then forced three goal line dropouts in three sets but the Crusaders defence was holding strong and then Dean Meadows went close before Jack Hansen kicked through the defence and chased but knocked on as the ball was running away from him over the line. The defence eventually was breached when Max Roberts forced his way over on the left to score for the Lions to put them into the lead and Dan Abram added the conversion from near the touchline but this lead only lasted eight minutes when Crusaders turned on the pressure again on the Lions line and Barratt went over by the posts to score after some good play near the line with Billsborough converting from close range to level the scores and it looked like golden point might be looming. Another good attack down the left by Morley-Samuels and Massam forced Abram to knock on ten metres from his line and from the scrum quick hands saw the ball spin left and Kieran Sherratt went through a huge gap to score with Billsborough again converting but the Lions didn’t give up and in the dying seconds Richard Lepori broke down the right before cutting inside and sending out a pass to Else and he tried to hack the ball on and Jack Holmes managed to smother it and the final hooter sounded.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

  1 Dan Abram

  2 Mike Butt

  4 Max Roberts

11 Rhodri Lloyd

  5 Richard Lepori

  6 Lewis Else

  7 Jack Hansen

  8 Will Hope

  9 Luke Waterworth

10 Lewis Hatton

13 Nick Gregson

12 Mitch Cox

16 Louis Brogan

Subs (all used)

14 Matt Wilkinson

19 Jose Kenga

17 Jack Spencer

20 Deane Meadows

Tries: Butt (26), Lloyd (42), Roberts (62)

Goals: Abram 1/3

Sin-Bin: Hope (18) Backchat

CRUSADERS

24 Jack Holmes

  1 Pat Ah Van

  3 Harry Swarbrick

  5 Dante Morley-Samuels

  4 Rob Massam

NN Jordy Gibson

  7 Brad Billsborough

16 Chris Barratt

  9 Patrick Rainford

  8 Callum Hazzard

15 Gav Roden

12 Kieran Sherratt

20 Matt Fletcher

Subs (all used)

11 Paul Nash

22 Brad Brennan

25 Jack Houghton

31 Callum Hughes (NU)

Tries: Swarbrick (5,14), Barratt (70), Sherratt (73)

Goals: Billsborough 2/4

Sin-Bin: Barratt (24) use of shoulder

Penalty count: 3-10 Half-time:  4-8

Referee: Liam Rush Attendance:  516

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4,0-8,4-8,8-8,14-8,14-14,14-20

News

Match Report – West Wales Raiders vs Swinton Lions

WEST WALES RAIDERS 0

SWINTON LIONS  96

IAN RIGG Stebonheath Park, Sunday

The Lions sailed into the fourth-round draw of the Challenge Cup with a record winning margin their biggest since a 96-4 victory over Oxford in 2015. Dan Abram also equalled the goal kicking record with fourteen conversions, and this is now shared with Ian Mort who kicked the same number in the game against Oxford.

The Lions first try came after just ninety-seconds when a Raiders player was tackled into touch on the very first play of the game and from the play the ball on the Raiders twenty Louis Brogan went close but fed the supporting Will Hope who scored by the posts and Dan Abram converted. The next try came on five minutes when fast hands saw Richard Lepori dive over in the right corner, but this went unconverted and virtually from the restart Mike Butt got the ball near his own line to feed the supporting Max Roberts and he raced sixty metres to score under the posts and Abram converted this one. We had to wait five minutes for the next try and again Brogan was the provider as he sent Luke Waterworth in under the posts and again the conversion was good.

Rhodri Lloyd added the next try on fifteen minutes when he chased a Jack Hansen kick to score on the right which again was converted and again from the restart it was Lloyd who turned provider when he broke down the right to draw the defence and send Lepori away for his second and once again Abram was on target. Lepori completed a fifteen-minute hat trick when again Lloyd was the provider for him to score right in the corner but no conversion for this one, but the Lions held a thirty-eight-point lead at the midway point of the half.

Lewis Charnock was next to score when he scooted over from short range, and this was quickly followed by a try for Abram when he chased a kick from Hansen and both of these were converted as they hit the half century mark. Raiders had a glorious effort to score six minutes from the break when full back Mike Holden collected a stray Lions pass just inside his own half and set off up the wing on his way to the line with defenders chasing him but Max Roberts made good ground across the field just to tap his ankles about five metres from the line and he spilled the ball and the chance went. Ben Heyes scored the Lions last try of the half two minutes before the break when he collected a high ball close to his own line to break two tackles and race eighty metres to score under the posts and the conversion was added.

Mitch Cox had a great chance to open the scoring of the second half, but his effort was judged a double movement, but they did get over on forty-nine minutes when an overlap on the left saw Mike Butt cross on the left and this was converted. Deane Meadows was the next scorer when he raced away to score under the posts and Abram converted. Jack Hansen was held up over the line on fifty-seven minutes, but he did score seven minutes later when Abram made a break to send him over and the conversion was added.

Butt added his second on sixty-seven minutes when he crossed on the left and two minutes later Abram added his second try. Roberts scored the sixteenth try of the afternoon with eight minutes left after good play by Jordan Case as they passed the ninety-point barrier and the record breaking try came with four minutes left when Hansen chipped the Raiders defence to follow his kick and regather to score out on the right, but Abram could not convert. They Lions we now trying to hit three figures and were camped on the Raiders line but a try scoring move broke down when the ball went to ground with an overlap.

The reasonable following of Lions fans had a great ending to their weekend as they cheered their heroes from the pitch before the long but happy journey home.

RAIDERS

  1 Mike Holden

  2 Sam Pridgeon

  3 Louis Watson

  4 Josh Frost

  5 Dan Maiden

  6 Ben Jones

  7 Fergus Simpson

  8 Sam Heron

  9 Dafydd Phillips

10 Joe Burke

11 Will Odgers

12 Craig Lewis

13 Callum Mulkeen

Subs (all used)

14 Harry Boots

15 Alan Pope

16 George Orriss

17 Dan Wilde

LIONS

22 Ben Heyes

  2 Mike Butt

  4 Max Roberts

11 Rhodri Lloyd

  5 Richard Lepori

  1 Dan Abram

  7 Jack Hansen

23 Jordan Case

  9 Luke Waterworth

  8 Will Hope

12 Mitch Cox

13 Nick Gregson

16 Louis Brogan

Subs (all used)

25 Lewis Charnock

17 Jack Spencer

20 Deane Meadows

19 Jose Kenga

Tries: Hope (2), Lepori (5,18,21), Roberts (7,72), Waterworth (12), Lloyd (16),

Charnock (28), Abram (32,70), Heyes (38), Butt (49,68), Meadows (53), Hansen (66,77)

Goals: Abram 14/17

Referee: James Jones

Penalty Count: 0-7

Half-Time: 0-56

Attendance: 312

Scoring Sequence: 0-6,0-10,0-16,0-22,0-28,0-34,0-38,0-44,0-50,0-56,0-62,0-68,0-74,0-80,0-86,

0-92-0-96

News

TACKLE IT : 13 Second Pause

Rugby League is an inclusive sport. There will now be a 13-seconds pause before kick-off for everybody present to show support for anti-discrimination in Rugby League. We also encourage spectators to demonstrate their support for anti-discrimination by applauding players during the 13 seconds.

Increasing inclusion and diversity whilst tackling all forms of discrimination, including racism, is key to the growth and success of Rugby League. The TACKLE IT action plan is sport-wide and sets out specific measures which the sport is taking together to deliver real change.

We are playing our part in delivering the TACKLE IT commitments to make a positive, lasting difference. Rugby League stands in solidarity with players, coaches, match officials, fans, volunteers, staff, and supporters in the struggle against racism and discrimination in sport and in society.

In 2022 we are committed to making TACKLE IT not only a critical action plan for the game, but a more visible anti-discrimination campaign as well.

News

Match Report – Swinton Lions vs Whitehaven

SWINTON LIONS 28

WHITEHAVEN 22

IAN RIGG Heywood Road Sunday

The Lions came out on top in a highly entertaining game on a freezing afternoon. Both sides played virtually their full-strength squads and they all had good minutes on the pitch. Richard Lepori and Will Evans had early chances for their respective sides before Liam Cooper linked with Evans to score the opening try for Haven crossing by the posts on seven minutes and Alex Bishop converted. Bishop then had a good chance seven minutes later when he broke through only to lose the ball in a good position. The Lions hit back to level the scores when Louis Brogan scored under the posts after some good pressure, and this was converted by Dan Abram and the Lions took the lead on twenty minutes when Brogan sent Abram racing through a gap and he fed the ball to the supporting Lewis Else who beat a tackle to score on the left with Abram converting again.

Nikau Williams locked the scores at twelve all fifteen minutes from the break when he wriggled over from short-range following pressure on the line from a penalty and Bishop converted and with five minutes to go before the break Dave Eccleston escaped a tackle to score right in the corner, but Bishop could not convert from the touchline. Will Hope thought he had scored for the Lions just a few minutes into the second half, but he was offside.

Haven went back into the lead on fifty-one minutes when Kieran Hudson went over from a short pass by Bishop and the provider added the conversion to stretch the lead. Geronimo Doyle made a good break on fifty-three minutes only to be hunted down by Ben Heyes and from this passage of play the Lions went back up field and some good play by Rhodri Lloyd and Jack Hansen sent him over for the try to which Hansen converted. Four minutes later the Lions took the lead when Heyes sidestepped his was though a cluster of defenders to score by the posts and Hansen converted.

Tom Walker got over the line for Haven with twelve minutes left but was judged offside and the Lions had another chance when Andrew Bulman was forced dead in goal. The match winning try came with five minutes left when Heyes was involved twice in the build-up for Mitch Cox to go over on the left but Hansen was unable to convert this one.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

  1 Dan Abram

22 Ben Heyes

  4 Max Roberts

  2 Mike Butt

  5 Richard Lepori

  6 Lewis Else

  7 Jack Hansen

17 Jack Spencer

25 Lewis Charnock

19 Jose Kenga

23 Jordan Case

11 Rhodri Lloyd

16 Louis Brogan

Subs (all used)

10 Lewis Hatton

  9 Luke Waterworth

18 Paddy Jones

13 Nick Gregson

12 Mitch Cox

20 Deane Meadows

  8 Will Hope

24 Jordan Brown

NN Harry Darby

Tries: Brogan (17), Else (20), Lepori (55), Heyes (58), Cox (75)

Goals: Abram 2/2 

Hansen 2/3

WHITEHAVEN

  1 Geronimo Doyle

  2 Dave Eccleston

  4 Will Evans

  6 Karl Dixon

  5 Andrew Bulman

23 Alex Bishop

  7 Nikau Williams

18 Guy Graham

  9 Callum Phillips

10 Tom Walker

11 Ryan King

12 Liam Cooper

20 Jake Bradley

Subs (all used)

13 Dion Aiye

17 Andrew Dawson

15 Connor Holliday

21 Kieran Hudson

  8 Liam McAvoy

19 Jake Moore

14 James Newton

16 Tom Wilkinson

Tries: Cooper (7), Williams (25), Eccleston (36), Hudson (51)

Goals: Bishop 3/4

Penalty Count: 7-7 Half-time: 12-16

Referee: Luke Bland Attendance:  377

SCRORING SEQUENCE: 0-6,6-6,12-6,12-12,12-16,12-22,18-22,24-22,28-22

News

Reece Hamlett released from his contract

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Brave Lionesses lose out to Red Devils

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Match Report – Salford Red Devils vs Swinton Lions

SALFORD RED DEVILS 48

SWINTON LIONS 12

IAN RIGG A J Bell Stadium Saturday

The Red Devils came out on top as the two local rivals gave the crowd a good game on a freezing cold afternoon. Paul Rowley had quite a few injury worries in the build up to the game but fielded a strong side which worked well together and provided some good rugby and slick moves. Lions coach Allan Coleman fielded all but three of his squad and they all had good minutes on the field.

The Lions started very strongly and asked quite a few questions of the Red Devils defence and Lewis Hatton and Mitch Cox both went close before the home side took the lead on twelve minutes when a good move down the left was finished off when Brodie Croft scored near the corner and his half back partner Marc Sneyd added the conversion from the touchline. Three minutes later they were in again when some slick passing sent Ryan Brierley away to score in the corner, but this went unconverted, and it got even better a couple of minutes later when the prolific Deon Cross went over for the third try but again no conversion for this one. 

Sam Luckley and Jack Hansen then had good chances for there respective sides but they came to nothing before Ken Sio wasn’t going to be stopped on a run to the line knocking off four defenders on his way scoring in the right corner and Sneyd converted from the touchline and with five minutes left of the half former Lion Andy Ackers sold a nice dummy to score under the posts and this was again converted by Sneyd giving his side a nice lead at the break.

As in the first half the Lions made a great start to the second half forcing two goal line dropouts in the space of a couple of minutes and on fifty-two minutes substitute Ben Heyes almost set up a try for Mike Butt when he put in a nice kick towards the corner, but the bounce of the ball evaded the chasing winger and ran dead. The Lions opened their account on fifty-five minutes when a hanging kick towards the Red Devils left side defence was not dealt with and Butt raced onto the loose ball to score near the corner and this was converted by Jack Hansen. Matt Costello hit back for the Red Devils virtually from the restart when he raced away down the right to score and this was converted by Chris Atkin. 

Will Hope added the Lions second try just after the hour when some good passing saw him score between the sticks and this was converted again by Hansen and the noisy Lions fans were making themselves known getting behind their side. Again the Red Devils hit back quickly and a couple of minutes late Shane Wright exploited a large overlap on the left to score but the conversion from Atkin sailed wide and missed. Ackers added his second of the afternoon with fourteen minutes left and Atkin added the conversion to this one and five minutes later Rhys Williams finished off the scoring for the afternoon having been sent clear by Cross and Atkin converted to complete the impressive victory.

GAMESTAR: Brodie Croft – The new halfback was in the engine room for many of the tries.

GAMEBREAKER: Three Red Devils tries in a six-minute period gave them a good platform.

MATCHFACTS

RED DEVILS

  1 Ryan Brierley

22 Rhys Williams

23 Deon Cross

24 Matt Costello

  2 Ken Sio

  6 Brodie Croft

  7 Marc Sneyd

15 King Vuniyayawa

  9 Andy Ackers

  8 Sita Akauola

11 Shane Wright

13 Elijah Taylor

26 Sam Luckley

Subs (all used)

25 Morgan Escare

18 Chris Atkin

30 Jack Stevens

10 Greg Burke

21 Josh Johnson

29 Alex Gerrard

Tries: Croft (12), Brierley (15), Cross (18), Sio (29), 

Ackers (35,66), Costello (58), Wright (64), Williams (71)

Goals: Sneyd 3/5 , Atkin 3/4

LIONS

  1 Dan Abram

  2 Mike Butt

  4 Max Roberts

11 Rhodri Lloyd

  5 Richard Lepori

  6 Lewis Else

  7 Jack Hansen

  8 Will Hope

  9 Luke Waterworth

10 Lewis Hatton

13 Nick Gregson

12 Mitch Cox

20 Deane Meadows

Subs (all used)

18 Paddy Jones

17 Jack Spencer

25 Lewis Charnock

24 Jordan Brown

23 Jordan Case

22 Ben Heyes

16 Louis Brogan

15 Billy Brickhill

19 Jose Kenga

Tries: Butt (55), Hope (62)

Goals: Hansen 2/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0,10-0,14-0,20-0,26-0,26-6,32-6, 32-12,36-12,42-12,48-12.

Penalty count: 2-6 Half-time:  26-0

Referee: James Jones Attendance:  1688