A Very Necessary Win..!
Swinton 1 win, England 0 wins, Sunday didn't quite have everything! Here's what the Salford Advertiser got:
Swinton Lions moved up to seventh in The Championship with a gutsy comeback to defeat and also deprive of a bonus point the luckless Hunslet Hawks 36-22.
The faultless performance of goalkicker Ian Mort underlined how crucial the art of goalkicking is, every conversion was a huge mental blow against the Hawks and this coming after missed goals was a major reason why Swinton lost last time out at York City Knights.
Lions scrum half Ian Watson called this game “massive” in midweek in relation to Swinton’s prospects for the rest of the season and he was instrumental early on, sending Adam Walker charging through, Elliot Hodgson took him down but two tackles later, Watson supplied another pass to Carl Forster whom Walker supported to go over anyway.
Swinton botched the kick off reception and Hunslet responded with a copycat try, Ryan Benjafield setting up Andy Yates, with Aaron Dobek converting.
The visitors were clearly well up for this game after a thumping on home turf last month, clearly demonstrated when five players combined to send Mort into touch after he got the ball from a standing start.
Even better was to come, Dobek shot through, Luke Haigh supported and a kick to the corner worried Mort into fumbling it. The Hawks kept coercing and following Haigh’s lofted pass wide, Lee Brickwood created an opening for Stuart Kain.
Another try could have easily followed, Liam Welham scooted through the cover but with Dobek and Haigh on his shoulder, the ball went to ground and the Lions breathed a sigh of relief.
Another stroke of fortune then benefitted the Lions, Luke Helliwell’s arm in the tackle wiped the tackle count and Watson sent Walker stomping over, putting the prop on a hat trick after just quarter of an hour of play.
Hunslet beefed up their attack off the bench and giant forwards David Tootill and Anthony Henderson started to run amok with able support from John Oakes, all gaining big yards and the upper hand on the pitch.
Andy Yates knocked on while in the process of touching down but soon afterwards Helliwell’s fine flat pass was met by Welham who went over untouched with Dobek goaling for a four point interval lead.
The Hawks began the second half as the superior team as well; Josh Nathaniel will be kicking himself after dropping Dobek’s pass with an attack building down the right flank.
There was a suspicion of a forward pass in Swinton’s next try as Mort released Chaz L’Anson who fed Gavin Dodd.
Dodd needed to have his wits about him to punch the ball dead at the other end as Henderson’s kick to the corner had Dennis Tuffour closely following, all off the back of Oakes’ fine offload in a tackle.
Joe McLocklan’s tidy ball to Nathaniel then put the substitute over and Hunslet back ahead, Dobek was left frustrated as his conversion hit the left upright and bounced out.
Swinton then had a score disallowed, Chris Clarke made it over the tryline but the Hawks didn’t let the second rower ground the ball.
Then Walker’s ill advised pass found its’ way to Hemingway, Hunslet ramped up the pressure and Swinton were penalised while defending from which Dobek coolly stroked over the penalty.
Kevin Penny looked set for the line after he scooped up a lost ball but the referee adjudged both sides knocked on and the ball was taken back to the 20 metre line for a scrum.
It was Swinton’s turn to ask the questions now, Morrison was ankle tapped after breaking out of a tackle but Tuffour fumbled a high kick and Martin Ainscough was on hand to tap down.
Swinton then got caught for another unnecessary penalty, this time Dobek dragged the kick wide, Mort stopped it going dead, instead launching Dodd on a superb fifty metre run. Swinton continued and Watson’s kick was wonderfully placed for Dodd to finish, somehow collecting and planting it down in the corner, Mort sweeping the conversion over from the touchline.
His final goal then pilfered the Hawks bonus point, prior to that, Watson had lead the Yorkshiremen a merry dance before Carl Forster was released who sent in L’Anson.
There was still plenty of time left, sadly because Dobek was stretchered off after getting injured in a tackle; his compatriots tried their best to retrieve a point but their last chance saw Penny outpace Kain chasing Helliwell’s kick to the corner.
Swinton: 1. Ian Mort, 2. Gavin Dodd, 3. Adam Higson, 4. Tom Armstrong, 5. Kevin Penny, 6.Martin Ainscough, 7. Ian Watson, 8. Adam Walker, 9. Mark Smith, 10. Mike Morrison, 11. Dale Cunniffe, 12. Chris Clarke, 13. Carl Forster.
Subs: 14. David Mills, 15. Glenn Riley, 16. Richie Hawkyard, 17. Chaz L’Anson.
Hunslet: 1. Elliot Hodgson, 2. Stuart Kain, 3. Lee Brickwood, 4.Liam Welham, 5. Dennis Tuffour, 6. Luke Helliwell, 7. Aaron Dobek, 8. Andy Yates, 9. Luke Haigh, 10. Ryan Benjafield, 17. Steve Lewis, 12. John Oakes, 16. David March.
Subs: 14. Joe McLocklan, 19. Josh Nathaniel, 20. David Tootill, 13. Anthony Henderson.
Referee: Chris Leatherbarrow
HT: 12-16
MOTM: Swinton: Ian Mort, Hunslet: Anthony Henderson
Attendance: 567
Swinton Lions moved up to seventh in The Championship with a gutsy comeback to defeat and also deprive of a bonus point the luckless Hunslet Hawks 36-22.
The faultless performance of goalkicker Ian Mort underlined how crucial the art of goalkicking is, every conversion was a huge mental blow against the Hawks and this coming after missed goals was a major reason why Swinton lost last time out at York City Knights.
Lions scrum half Ian Watson called this game “massive” in midweek in relation to Swinton’s prospects for the rest of the season and he was instrumental early on, sending Adam Walker charging through, Elliot Hodgson took him down but two tackles later, Watson supplied another pass to Carl Forster whom Walker supported to go over anyway.
Swinton botched the kick off reception and Hunslet responded with a copycat try, Ryan Benjafield setting up Andy Yates, with Aaron Dobek converting.
The visitors were clearly well up for this game after a thumping on home turf last month, clearly demonstrated when five players combined to send Mort into touch after he got the ball from a standing start.
Even better was to come, Dobek shot through, Luke Haigh supported and a kick to the corner worried Mort into fumbling it. The Hawks kept coercing and following Haigh’s lofted pass wide, Lee Brickwood created an opening for Stuart Kain.
Another try could have easily followed, Liam Welham scooted through the cover but with Dobek and Haigh on his shoulder, the ball went to ground and the Lions breathed a sigh of relief.
Another stroke of fortune then benefitted the Lions, Luke Helliwell’s arm in the tackle wiped the tackle count and Watson sent Walker stomping over, putting the prop on a hat trick after just quarter of an hour of play.
Hunslet beefed up their attack off the bench and giant forwards David Tootill and Anthony Henderson started to run amok with able support from John Oakes, all gaining big yards and the upper hand on the pitch.
Andy Yates knocked on while in the process of touching down but soon afterwards Helliwell’s fine flat pass was met by Welham who went over untouched with Dobek goaling for a four point interval lead.
The Hawks began the second half as the superior team as well; Josh Nathaniel will be kicking himself after dropping Dobek’s pass with an attack building down the right flank.
There was a suspicion of a forward pass in Swinton’s next try as Mort released Chaz L’Anson who fed Gavin Dodd.
Dodd needed to have his wits about him to punch the ball dead at the other end as Henderson’s kick to the corner had Dennis Tuffour closely following, all off the back of Oakes’ fine offload in a tackle.
Joe McLocklan’s tidy ball to Nathaniel then put the substitute over and Hunslet back ahead, Dobek was left frustrated as his conversion hit the left upright and bounced out.
Swinton then had a score disallowed, Chris Clarke made it over the tryline but the Hawks didn’t let the second rower ground the ball.
Then Walker’s ill advised pass found its’ way to Hemingway, Hunslet ramped up the pressure and Swinton were penalised while defending from which Dobek coolly stroked over the penalty.
Kevin Penny looked set for the line after he scooped up a lost ball but the referee adjudged both sides knocked on and the ball was taken back to the 20 metre line for a scrum.
It was Swinton’s turn to ask the questions now, Morrison was ankle tapped after breaking out of a tackle but Tuffour fumbled a high kick and Martin Ainscough was on hand to tap down.
Swinton then got caught for another unnecessary penalty, this time Dobek dragged the kick wide, Mort stopped it going dead, instead launching Dodd on a superb fifty metre run. Swinton continued and Watson’s kick was wonderfully placed for Dodd to finish, somehow collecting and planting it down in the corner, Mort sweeping the conversion over from the touchline.
His final goal then pilfered the Hawks bonus point, prior to that, Watson had lead the Yorkshiremen a merry dance before Carl Forster was released who sent in L’Anson.
There was still plenty of time left, sadly because Dobek was stretchered off after getting injured in a tackle; his compatriots tried their best to retrieve a point but their last chance saw Penny outpace Kain chasing Helliwell’s kick to the corner.
Swinton: 1. Ian Mort, 2. Gavin Dodd, 3. Adam Higson, 4. Tom Armstrong, 5. Kevin Penny, 6.Martin Ainscough, 7. Ian Watson, 8. Adam Walker, 9. Mark Smith, 10. Mike Morrison, 11. Dale Cunniffe, 12. Chris Clarke, 13. Carl Forster.
Subs: 14. David Mills, 15. Glenn Riley, 16. Richie Hawkyard, 17. Chaz L’Anson.
Hunslet: 1. Elliot Hodgson, 2. Stuart Kain, 3. Lee Brickwood, 4.Liam Welham, 5. Dennis Tuffour, 6. Luke Helliwell, 7. Aaron Dobek, 8. Andy Yates, 9. Luke Haigh, 10. Ryan Benjafield, 17. Steve Lewis, 12. John Oakes, 16. David March.
Subs: 14. Joe McLocklan, 19. Josh Nathaniel, 20. David Tootill, 13. Anthony Henderson.
Referee: Chris Leatherbarrow
HT: 12-16
MOTM: Swinton: Ian Mort, Hunslet: Anthony Henderson
Attendance: 567