Match report – Swinton Lionesses vs Illingworth

08 May 2022

SWINTON LIONESSES 20

ILLINGWORTH 10

IAN RIGG At Heywood Road

The Lionesses continued their good form with a good hard-fought victory over Illingworth played as a double header before the Lions against London Skolars game.

Rebecca Roden put the Lionesses ahead after just five minutes when she crashed over on the left after a good passing movement, but Georgie Cunliffe was unable to add the conversion from the touchline. Illingworth came close five minutes later but prop Debbie Patrice-Smith was unable to control the ball going for the corner but she did make amends seven minutes later when she crashed over from short range, but Charlotte McCauliffe could not add then conversion and the scores were locked at four all.

Maddie Corrigan put the Lions back in the lead on thirty minutes after a super run by Chloe Birkett across the Illingworth defence, but this time Holly Grimes could not add the conversion again from the touchline and two minutes from the break Illingworth full back Niamh Cresswell was sent to the sinbin for an outburst vented towards referee James Flood.

Chloe Birkett got the Lions further ahead on the scoreboard five minutes into the second half when she left several defenders in her wake to score under the posts and Holly Grimes converted. Illingworth should have hit back but were pulled for a forward pass in the build-up. Holly Grimes missed what looked a simple penalty attempt on fifty minutes when Illingworth were pulled for offside in their own twenty, but they were given another penalty two minutes later in the same position and this time Georgie Cunliffe added the two points.

Illingworth came strong on fifty-seven minutes and Gabby Kanvey was held up but in the very next play the added their second try when Molly Waddington scored, and Charlotte McCauliffe added the conversion. The Lionesses secured the result with ten minutes left when Ellie Thirkell collected the ball in her own half and raced through two defenders attempts to tackle before going clear and scoring out on the right, but Maddie Higson could not convert but the result was already in the bag.

TEAMS:

LIONESSES: Maddie Higson, Izzy Birds, Maddie Corrigan, Mia Atherton, Catherine Sweeney, Ashley Deas, Ellie Thirkell, Emily Hayley, Eve Ashcroft, Abbie Parkes-Holden, Chloe Birkett, Rebecca Roden, Georgia Cunliffe. SUBS: Patrycja Baranek, Holly Grimes, Leah Christian, Carla Taylor, Daisy Pearson, Chloe Latham, Emily Swift.

Tries: Roden (5), Corrigan (30), Birkett (45), Thirkell (70)

Goals: Grimes 1, Cunliffe 1.

ILLINGWORTH: Cresswell, Ellis, Waddington, McCauliffe, K.Williams, Hunter, Bentley, Whitworth, S.Williams, Patrice-Smith, Smith, Kanvey, Stubley. SUBS: Jave, Holmes, Murray.

Referee: James Flood. Pens: 7-2 Half-time: 8-4