Back Once Again...

For the newbies, I'm a part time rugby league journalist, as well as other things, I use my LJ among other reasons as a storehouse for my written work, here's my first Swinton report of the season, they will all be behind LJ cuts like this, so if you don't want to read, it can easily be skipped!

Anyway, here is an encouraging victory over Oldham, in the cold of Manchester this evening:

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Swinton Lions 32 Oldham 14 by Jeff Tyldesley

Swinton Lions were dominant winners in their opening match of 2017, in this at-times tetchy local derby at Heywood Road.
After conceding over a thousand points during the Championship campaign of 2016, it was perhaps most pleasing for the Lions faithful to see them deny Oldham any tries at all in the first half and largely concede with the game already sewn up.

Second time debutant Matt Sarsfield took the sponsors’ Man of the Match award but there were eyecatching starts for Jack Murphy, Chris Hankinson and Grant Gore to enjoy as well.

Swinton were energetic from the off, a smart Chris Atkin grubber having to be cleared dead by Jamal Chisholm, denying Sarsfield then Rhodri Lloyd was held up after Jack Murphy flicked a neat pass out.

Eventually, the Lions took the lead, Atkin and Grant Gore combining well in the half back positions before Lloyd sent in Matt Gardner out wide. Unfortunately, the Lions’ centre picked up a hamstring injury in the process, having to be subbed shortly afterwards. Atkin’s kick hit the post.

The first half was an exercise in working out the kinks and rustiness, there were knocks on and the ball kicked dead unintentionally but still moments of genuine quality, such as Gareth Owen’s grubber to the corner which just evaded Harry Warburton.

An apparent knee from Owen on Murphy lead to the first all-in brawl of the afternoon after twenty minutes but it didn’t knock Swinton out of their step, the prolific Sarsfield going over for a try on his second debut for the Lions, Atkin converted.

A bad pass curtailed Swinton’s final opportunity before the interval, after a 40-20 left them in a wonderful position to extend their lead further.

They didn’t dawdle making amends in the early stages of the second half, substitute Luke Waterworth unleashing Hankinson down the right hand side, Oldham covered but it flew left and Murphy strode through the cover, Atkin was befallen with poor luck, as his second conversion rebounded off the upright.

Oldham made their mark shortly afterwards when Ben Davies fed returning centre from Sheffield Eagles George Tyson, who charged over.

After an error at the play the ball, a fine individual run from Hankinson pushed Swinton further clear with Atkin goaling to add to the punishment.

The Lions sealed the win with two tries just after the hour mark, firstly Sean Kenny ducked and dived under a couple of Oldham tacklers before feeding Murphy who galloped away to score, Atkin couldn’t miss from right in front.

Before a lovely scoot and flat pass from Atkin (who picked up a knock in the process) was met by Andy Bracek, who kept his balance superbly on the tricky surface to step his way over. Hankinson stood in on the kicking duties.

With the game done, Oldham had their most fluid and productive period of the game, Owen supplying a well-paced grubber for Joe Burke to pounce on.

Then, the Roughyeds flung the ball to the right hand side for Warburton to slide in through the descending gloom of the mid-winter evening, Scott Leatherbarrow converting the former.

SWINTON LIONS: Jack Murphy 9, Shaun Robinson 8, Chris Hankinson 8, Rhodri Lloyd 6, Matt Gardner 7, Grant Gore 7, Chris Atkin 8, Jordan Hand 6, Sean Kenny 8, Andy Bracek 7, Connor Dwyer 6, Matt Sarsfield 8, Anthony Bate 7.

Subs: Ben White (NU), Rob Lever 8, Ben Austin 7, Oliver Davies 7, Luke Waterworth 7, Mike Butt 6, Adam Jones 7, Josh Houghton 7

Tries: Gardner (5), Sarsfield (30), Murphy (44, 61), Hankinson (53), Bracek (68) Goals: Atkin 3/5, Hankinson 1/1.

OLDHAM: Scott Turner 8, Harry Warburton 6, George Tyson 8, Steve Nield 7, Jamel Chisholm 7, Scott Leatherbarrow 6, David Hewitt 6, Phil Joy 6, Gareth Owen 8, Adam Neal 6, Jack Spencer 7, Danny Langtree 7, Liam Thompson 6.

Subs: Sam Gee 7, Kenny Hughes 7, Ben Davies 7, Michael Ward 8, Joe Burke 7

Tries: Tyson 49, Burke 71, Warburton 77. Goals: Leatherbarrow 1/3.

Ref Rating: C Straw 85/100 / Half Time: 10-0 / Penalties: 5-6 / Sin Bins: None / Sent Off: None / Weather: Cold and grey / Man of the Match: Jack Murphy (Swinton) / Attendance: 587 / Match Rating: 3/5.

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