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SWINTON LIONS 6 NEWCASTLE THUNDER 18

07 February 2023

Thunder took the points in a tough encounter with a strong performance against the Lions. The visitors started strongly and had a good early pressure on the line but some good defence matched their efforts and the first real chance came on nine minutes when Jordy Gibson put a kick to the corner but Andy Badrock could not control the bounce and knocked on over the line. Again Thunder came strong and the Lions defence had to show their metal to stop Marcus Walker as he went for the corner but was just knocked into touch. Another chance came the Lions way on sixteen minutes but again they lost the ball just metres from the line. Brad Gallagher was held up for Thunder and then Alex Young could have scored in the corner but the final pass sailed over his head before Alex Foster too had a good chance but lost the ball short of the line. Joey Romeo had a chance for the Lions five minutes from the break, but he too lost the ball and this set up a good position for Thunder and this saw winger Alex Clegg cross in the corner but was brought back for a double movement. The deadlock was finally broken two minute from the break when some good play down the right saw Badrock dummy the defence to score in the right corner but the conversion attempt from Nick Gregson hit the crossbar and it bounced out as the half time hooter sounded.

The Lions started better in the second half but again they made a handling error when Liam Cooper lost the ball in a good position and the chance went. Luke Waterworth then went close for the Lions but his final pass ended up in the hands of a Thunder defender who cleared the line. Thunder took the lead on fifty-six minutes when good passing got Alex Young over in the left corner and Nikau Williams added a great conversion from the touchline. Gav Rodden then went over for the Lions but he was offside from the kick trough but on sixty-three minutes Gregson levelled the scores with a penalty goal. The Lions were now starting to put pressure on the line and Rhodri Lloyd thought he had scored on the left only to be held up. Both defences played really well and Williams went for a drop goal with seven minutes left only to have it charged down by Josh Eaves but this gave them the springboard to finish the game stronger and more good passing saw Young add his second try in the corner with five minutes left and Williams again converted from the touchline before Williams made victory safe when he again went for a drop goal but this time sold a huge dummy to several defenders to score to the right of the posts and convert as the final hooter sounded.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS

26 Joey Romeo

  3 Jake Spedding

22 Andy Badrock

11 Rhodri Lloyd

  2 Mike Butt

  6 Nick Gregson

  7 Jordy Gibson

  8 Gavin Bennion

14 Josh Eaves

10 Kenny Baker

12 Mitch Cox

16 Gav Rodden

13 Louis Brogan

Subs (all used)

  9 Luke Waterworth

15 Jordan Case

18 Liam Cooper

19 Ollie Olds

18th MAN

  1 Dan Abram

Try: Badrock (38)

Goals: 0/2

THUNDER

  1 Jack Johnson

  5 Alex Clegg

  3 Marcus Walker

26 Mac Walsh

  2 Alex Young

  6 Alex Donaghy

  7 Nikau Williams

  8 Jay Chapelhow

  9 Curtis Davies

10 Mitch Clark

11 Alex Foster

12 Brad Gallagher

13 Connor Bailey

Subs (all used)

14 Denive Balmforth

15 Ted Chapelhow

16 Rhys Clarke

23 Connor Moore

18th MAN

22 Jake Anderson

Tries: Young (56,75), Williams (79)

Goals: Williams 3/3

Penalties: 6-6 Half-time: 6-18

Referee: Ryan Cox Attendance: 877

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0,4-6,6-6,6-12,6-18

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