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SWINTON DISPLAY GUTSY PERFORMANCE TO BEAT CRUSADERS

21 January 2019

Swinton Lions secured their first win of the pre-season 26-0 against League One outfit North Wales Crusaders, crossing for five tries on the return to Heywood Road.

Swinton Lions returned to Heywood Road with a win against League One side North Wales Crusaders in the second match of the pre-season friendlies. 

The Lions came out on top against a Crusaders side which showed lots of promise but was unable to breach the home side’s defences.

Stuart Littler shuffled his side from the one that played Salford last week and they showed some good touches, but both sides fell off the pace in the second half in the cold conditions.

The Lions went ahead in the second minute after Crusaders lost the ball in their own half and pressure on the line saw Luke Waterworth dive over from short range by the posts with Oscar Thomas adding the simple conversion.

Anthony Murray’s side then got some momentum going and started to trouble the Lions defence and came close on a couple of occasions, with Earl Hurst and Rob Massam both coming close but the defence held up. There was a case of handbags when Mike Butt was tackled in the air and some players ended up in a skirmish but this was soon sorted out by the officials.

The next Lions try came midway through the half when Aaron Hall slipped a lovely pass to Lewis Hatton who raced thirty metres to score by the posts and once again Thomas added the conversion. Daley Williams was held up three minutes later, but in the next set he powered his way over to score on the right but Thomas could not convert this one.

 

Billy Brickhill then went close after the restart but seven minutes from the half time hooter Mike Ratu had to leave the field with a dislocated shoulder and this caused a big reshuffle in the Lions ranks and the second Lions player to be injured in the last two games.

The Lions started strongly in the second half and Butt almost scored four minutes in, but was bundled into touch. However, the Lions pressed on and crossed three minutes later when Frankie Halton, Rob Fairclough and Williams all combined to send Matty Ashton in at the corner but Thomas could not convert this one as Williams left the field with a wrist injury.

It got even better two minutes later when Rhodri Lloyd and Fairclough combined to send Butt in for the try and Thomas converted.

FT: Swinton Lions 26-0 North Wales Crusaders

The Lions next face Oldham at Heywood Road on Sunday 27th January. 

Ian Rigg reporting from Heywood Road.

GAMESTAR: Lewis Hatton – The Lions prop drove his side forward many times and scored a good try too.

GAMEBREAKER: The Lions’ double score early in the second half gave the Crusaders too much to pull back.

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MATCH FACTS

Lions: Hansen, Butt, Williams, Ratu, Ashton, Thomas, Fairclough, Benin, Waterworth, Hatton, Lloyd, Halton, Kenga.

Subs: Brickhill, Gray, Hall, Jones, Warne, Worral

Tries: Waterworth (2′), Hatton (21′), Williams (25′), Ashton (47′), Butt (49′).

Goals: Thomas 3/5

Crusaders: Davies, Conroy, Hurst, Reid, Massam, Roper, Stead, Brennan, Ashall, W.Thompson, Houghton, A.Thompson, Baker

Subs: Hudson, Walker, Hughes, Bate, Ecclestone, Beckett, Connor

Referee: Paul Marklove

Attendance: 342

FT: 26-0 HT: 16-0

Photo credits: Pete Green

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