REPORT: FOUR TRY MIKE HELPS LIONS PROGRESS IN CUP

23 February 2020

Swinton secured their place in the fifth-round of the Coral Challenge Cup with an emphatic victory over amateur side Leigh Miners Rangers.

SWINTON LIONS 56-0 LEIGH MINERS RANGERS

The Lions got their name into the hat for the next round as Mike Butt scored four tries in an emphatic victory over Leigh Miners Rangers.

Despite the horrible weather in the last week the ground staff worked wonders to get the game on and the fans that turned up were treated to a good entertaining game.

Miners had first use of the ball from the kick-off but in only the second tackle the ball was spilled at the play the ball and this put the Lions on the attack straight from the off. Full-back Mike Butt linked into an attack in the second minute to go over on the right but the conversion attempt from Oscar Thomas drifted right and missed.

Miners then had a good attack down the left and Callum Coleman made some space for Rob Crompton but Butt was on hand to make the tackle and stop the danger.

Butt put the Lions further ahead on thirteen minutes after Luke Waterworth had been held up over the line and from the play the ball the movement went left and the full back was in again with Thomas adding the conversion.

The next Lions try came ten minutes later after some good build-up play down the right and Sam Grant on his debut cut inside to score by the posts with Thomas again adding the kick.

Miners then had another good chance just after the restart when Tom Worthington broke down the right only to be knocked into touch fifteen metres out.

Mitch Cox added the Lions fourth try a few minutes before the break after a good passing movement with Thomas again adding the extras but the Lions weren’t finished. Butt scored his third try just before the break after some good build-up play between Jack Hansen and Grant but Thomas could not add the conversion from the touchline as the half time hooter sounded.

Miners had a better start in the second half and after an early injury scare to winger Lewis Grimes they had a great chance down the left to open their account when Crompton went close but was grounded just short on the last tackle.

With Miners tiring quickly as the heavy pitch was taking its toll, the Lions added their next try on fifty minutes, when Will Hope followed a short kick near the line to score by the posts and Thomas again converted. Six minutes later Thomas turned provider when he chipped the Miners defensive line and Richard Lepori won the race to touchdown on the left but there was no conversion.

Former Miners forward Frankie Halton was next on the scoreboard for the Lions when he finished off a good passing movement and Thomas converted this one. Hope added his second try with fifteen minutes left after a nice short pass by Hansen and Thomas added this conversion. Butt added his fourth a few minutes later after some good play by Thomas and Ben Heyes to score in the corner but there was no conversion to this one.

Cox almost added his second try with three minutes left but was pulled back for obstruction and in the final minute another good passing movement saw Lepori add his second try in the left corner as the final hooter sounded but Thomas was unable to convert.

Ian Rigg reporting from Heywood Road

MATCH STATS

LIONS: Mike Butt, Richard Lepori, Sam Grant, Mitch Cox, Brandon Wood, Jack Hansen, Oscar Thomas, Gavin Bennion, Luke Waterworth, Lewis Hatton, Rhodri Lloyd, Frankie Halton, Will Hope

Subs (all used): Paddy Jones, Tayler Brown, Louis Brogan, Ben Heyes

Tries: Butt (2,13,39,69), Grant (23), Cox (36), Hope (50,65), Lepori (56,79), Halton (60).

Goals: Thomas 6/11

MINERS: Tom Worthington, Rob Crompton, Liam Kenyon, Adam Thomason, Lewis Grimes, Ryan Horne, Callum Coleman, Harry Darby, Lee Hudson, Darryl Kay, Joe Connor, Andy Badrock, Matty McGeown

Subs (all used): Owen Johnson, Danny Griffiths, Andy Philbin, Jonny Carol

Penalty Count: 5-2     Half-time: 26-0     Referee: Kevin Moore     Att: 622