We're sponsored by Glossop Caravans

SWINTON LIONS 20 BARROW RAIDERS 18

20 February 2023

IAN RIGG Heywood Road, Sunday

The Lions snatched victory in the final minute of a pulsating encounter that had everything, some super defence from both sides, some sinbins, and some exciting tries. Raiders took the lead in the first minute when Ryan Shaw landed a simple penalty from in front of the posts after Mike Butt held a player down with the defence in scramble mode. Ollie Olds was sent to the sin bin on fourteen minutes when he kicked ball away to delay a restart, but Raiders were unable to capitalise. Lions dual registered winger Jumah Sambou had a good chance to score in the left corner three minutes later but lost control of the ball going for the corner. Dan Abram then levelled the scores with a forty-metre penalty goal. Luke Cresswell and Abram then both had chances for their respective teams but again defence was good. An incident went on report on the half hour for what looked like an illegal tackle on Sambou and then Butt had a good chance before Raiders went back into the lead two minutes from the break when an overlap saw Shane Toal dive in at the corner but Shaw was unable to convert from the touchline and from the restart Raiders knocked on but there was no time left on the clock for the scrum in the away ten metres.

Lions levelled the scores on the first minute of the second half when a good break by Mitch Cox finished with a good passing movement and Jayden Hatton scoring the corner and Abram was unable to convert from the touchline. Raiders went into the lead again ten minutes later when Greg Worthington finished on the overlap and Shaw again converted. Ben Evans then had a good chance for Raiders, but again good defence held them out. Lions scored again with eighteen minutes left when Andy Badrock went over for his third try in as many games near the corner, but this also went unconverted. Luke Waterworth was sent to the sinbin for obstruction two minutes later and from the penalty Raiders made the Lions pay when Ryan Johnston scored under the posts and Shaw again made no mistake with his kick, but the Lions were not going away and with seven minutes left Josh Eaves went over from short range under the posts and Abram converted to bring them within two points. Still both sides were attacking each other and some great defence stopped Toal from scoring in the corner and with three minutes left he had a break down the left wing and a superb cover tackle by Badrock knocked him into touch but the Lions were still probing and pressing right to the end and the winning try came with about ninety seconds left on the clock when Jordy Gibson launched a high kick towards the Raiders defence and Hatton climbed highest to collect the ball in the air and then offloaded backwards. The ball bounced off the floor and hit a Raiders defender playing it towards the try line and Gibson managed to collect it and head for the corner despite being ankle tapped he managed to regather his feet and scramble to get the ball down in the corner to send the crowd to their feet in the stand but Abram was unable to convert again but at the restart there was only twenty-two seconds left and the Lions controlled the kick off to complete the victory.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

  1 Dan Abram

32 Jumah Sambou

  2 Mike Butt

22 Andy Badrock

  4 Jayden Hatton

19 Ollie Olds

  7 Jordy Gibson

10 Kenny Baker

  9 Luke Waterworth

34 George Delaney

11 Rhodri Lloyd

12 Mitch Cox

13 Louis Brogan

Subs (all used)

14 Josh Eaves

15 Jordan Case

18 Liam Cooper

  3 Jake Spedding

Tries: Hatton (41), Badrock (62), Eaves (73), Gibson (79)

Goals: Abram 2/5

Sinbin: Olds (14) Disent

               Waterworth (26) Holding down.

RAIDERS

  1 Luke Cresswell

27 Andrew Bulman

  4 Greg Worthington

  5 Ryan Shaw

  2 Shane Toal

  6 Jarrod Sammut

  7 Ryan Johnston

15 Ellis Gillam

23 Connor Saunders

10 Anton Iaria

11 Danny Langtree

12 Jarrad Stack

13 Jack Wells

Subs (all used)

14 Jake Carter

17 Carlie Emslie

20 Ben Evans

  8 Greg Burke

Tries: Toal (38), Worthington (51), Johnston (67)

Goals: Shaw ¾

On Report (30) illegal tackle on Sambou

Penalty count: 7-5 Half-time: 2-6

Referee:  Liam Rush Attendance: 1139

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2,2-2,2-6,6-6,6-12,10-12,10-18,16-18,20-18

Sponsors

Sale FC
Roadflash
Primus Traffic Management
Glossop Caravans
ROODSAFE
Created by Rugby League World Cup England 2021
Camway Installations
Daisymill Technologies
Swinton Lions Supporters Trust