Rugby League Is Back In 2013... In 2012!
For all you newbies on here, as well as my job, I also write freelance rugby league reports about the team I've supported since I was a boy! I post them on here so I have them backed up, they will always be in this format and under an LJ cut so if you want to skip over them, you can do! Anyway, here's the first Swinton friendly of the season versus North Wales:
Swinton Lions 34 North Wales Crusaders 14 by Jeff Tyldesley
Ian Watson’s Testimonial match proved to be entertaining viewing for both the Lions’ and the vociferous Crusaders supporters, as despite a few early scares, a Championship side defeated a Championship 1 outfit.
The Lions’ and Wales stalwart didn’t get on the scoresheet but displayed plenty of guile as he enters his seventeenth season in the professional ranks, guiding an unfamiliar looking Swinton team to a comfortable looking win.
However both sides can be enthused by at least some of the rugby on show at such an early stage of the season, in trying weather conditions.
North Wales gave an early sign of their ambitions as the ball went to ground near the Swinton line, Billy Sheen hacked it ahead and Richie Hawkyard appeared to tug him back as he went to dive on it but no penalty was forthcoming.
Sheen was involved again as the Welsh outfit deservedly took the lead, flicking a fine pass out to Christian Roets who released ex-Lion Andy Gorski who placed the ball under the sticks, Tommy Johnson adding an easy goal.
There was an immediate retort from the Lions, a Welsh connection between Watson - via Josh Barlow’s fine pass out of the tackle - which set up David Mills, Dan Birkett levelled things up.
Swinton then provided a more persistent assault on the North Wales line, Chaz L’Anson nearly dummied through the defence before Liam Hulme burrowed his way over from close range.
The Crusaders threw on the experienced Ryan McDonald off the bench and in conjunction Toby Adamson and Gorski, they were more than a handful and unsettled the Lions. Indeed, had McDonald held on to a kick which bounced off an upright to him, it could have been a different game entirely.
Swinton didn’t give the visitors much time to mope about the lost chance as L’Anson supplied a super inside ball which Richie Hawkyard raced onto from 20 yards out.
There was frustration aplenty from the North Wales camp towards the officials, as a high bomb was fumbled by Leon Brennan and Rob Masam and Kash Watkins pounced on the loose ball, they were certain there was some foul play but the Lions went three converted scores in front instead.
Those same North Wales players were involved in finishing off a slick passing move down the left. Sheen and Adamson both played a part before Brennan calmly sent in Masam at the cornerflag. Johnson’s conversion hit the post but the Crusaders were still in the hunt at half time.
This was especially true when Birkett misjudged a high bomb after the interval and Adamson capitalised, Johnson having the rare misfortune of hitting the post with the goal for the second time in a row!
Having narrowed the gap to just ten points, the Crusaders knocked on at the kick off and L’Anson popped up with a perfectly weighted kick for Ainscough to slide onto in the wet conditions just before it went dead, Birkett failed to bring up the thirty with his only miss of the day.
L’Anson and Ainscough then created an opening for Ballard to score in the corner and Swinton were assured of the win. The Lions nearly added another try immediately after but Chris Clarke’s ball to Ballard was well forward.
Tiredness and the amount of substitutes involved saw the latter stages become scrappier but there were still oodles of effort and craft on display; Joe Parkinson shot away from the North Wales cover but threw an interception to Gorski with
Ballard in support. Gorski was then penalised for not playing the ball while suffering cramp, the Lions then dropped it on the very next tackle.
Ballard capped a fine debut after coming on early for an injured Kevin Penny; firstly by finally collaring Simon Stevens who was making a weaving run to the line down the right and then getting involved when Jono Smith nearly sent Sheen under the posts in the final minutes.
SWINTON LIONS
Richie Hawkyard 8
Dan Birkett 6
Sam Reay 7
Martin Ainscough 6
Kevin Penny 6
Chaz L’Anson 8
Ian Watson 7
David Mills 7
Liam Hulme 6
Neil Holland 6
Chris Clarke 6
Kash Watkins 8
Josh Barlow 8
Subs:
Ashley Cooper 6
Adam Lewis 6
Andy Ballard 8
Lewis Brookes 6
Joe Parkinson 7
Jack Morrison 6
Mark Smith 7
Tries: Mills 8, Hulme 16, Hawkyard 20, Watkins 28, Ainscough 43, Ballard 49. Goals: Birkett 5/6.
NORTH WALES
Tommy Johnson 6
Christian Roets 7
Stuart Reardon 7
Leon Brennan 7
Rob Masam 7
Jamie Durbin 6
Billy Sheen 8
Simon Stevens 8
Dave McConnell 6
Phil Braddish 6
Toby Adamson 8
Andy Gorski 8
Jono Smith 7
Subs:
Ryan McDonald 8
Adam Bowman 7
Lee Hudson 7
Owain Brown 6
Craig White 7
Tries: Gorski 6, Masam 34, Adamson 41. Goals: Johnson 1/3.
Referee: D Sharpe 60/100 / HT: 24-10 / Pens: 2-2 / Sin Bins: None / Sent Off: None / MOTM: L’Anson (Swinton) / Attendance: 645 / Weather: Cold with rain / Match Rating: 3/5.
Swinton Lions 34 North Wales Crusaders 14 by Jeff Tyldesley
Ian Watson’s Testimonial match proved to be entertaining viewing for both the Lions’ and the vociferous Crusaders supporters, as despite a few early scares, a Championship side defeated a Championship 1 outfit.
The Lions’ and Wales stalwart didn’t get on the scoresheet but displayed plenty of guile as he enters his seventeenth season in the professional ranks, guiding an unfamiliar looking Swinton team to a comfortable looking win.
However both sides can be enthused by at least some of the rugby on show at such an early stage of the season, in trying weather conditions.
North Wales gave an early sign of their ambitions as the ball went to ground near the Swinton line, Billy Sheen hacked it ahead and Richie Hawkyard appeared to tug him back as he went to dive on it but no penalty was forthcoming.
Sheen was involved again as the Welsh outfit deservedly took the lead, flicking a fine pass out to Christian Roets who released ex-Lion Andy Gorski who placed the ball under the sticks, Tommy Johnson adding an easy goal.
There was an immediate retort from the Lions, a Welsh connection between Watson - via Josh Barlow’s fine pass out of the tackle - which set up David Mills, Dan Birkett levelled things up.
Swinton then provided a more persistent assault on the North Wales line, Chaz L’Anson nearly dummied through the defence before Liam Hulme burrowed his way over from close range.
The Crusaders threw on the experienced Ryan McDonald off the bench and in conjunction Toby Adamson and Gorski, they were more than a handful and unsettled the Lions. Indeed, had McDonald held on to a kick which bounced off an upright to him, it could have been a different game entirely.
Swinton didn’t give the visitors much time to mope about the lost chance as L’Anson supplied a super inside ball which Richie Hawkyard raced onto from 20 yards out.
There was frustration aplenty from the North Wales camp towards the officials, as a high bomb was fumbled by Leon Brennan and Rob Masam and Kash Watkins pounced on the loose ball, they were certain there was some foul play but the Lions went three converted scores in front instead.
Those same North Wales players were involved in finishing off a slick passing move down the left. Sheen and Adamson both played a part before Brennan calmly sent in Masam at the cornerflag. Johnson’s conversion hit the post but the Crusaders were still in the hunt at half time.
This was especially true when Birkett misjudged a high bomb after the interval and Adamson capitalised, Johnson having the rare misfortune of hitting the post with the goal for the second time in a row!
Having narrowed the gap to just ten points, the Crusaders knocked on at the kick off and L’Anson popped up with a perfectly weighted kick for Ainscough to slide onto in the wet conditions just before it went dead, Birkett failed to bring up the thirty with his only miss of the day.
L’Anson and Ainscough then created an opening for Ballard to score in the corner and Swinton were assured of the win. The Lions nearly added another try immediately after but Chris Clarke’s ball to Ballard was well forward.
Tiredness and the amount of substitutes involved saw the latter stages become scrappier but there were still oodles of effort and craft on display; Joe Parkinson shot away from the North Wales cover but threw an interception to Gorski with
Ballard in support. Gorski was then penalised for not playing the ball while suffering cramp, the Lions then dropped it on the very next tackle.
Ballard capped a fine debut after coming on early for an injured Kevin Penny; firstly by finally collaring Simon Stevens who was making a weaving run to the line down the right and then getting involved when Jono Smith nearly sent Sheen under the posts in the final minutes.
SWINTON LIONS
Richie Hawkyard 8
Dan Birkett 6
Sam Reay 7
Martin Ainscough 6
Kevin Penny 6
Chaz L’Anson 8
Ian Watson 7
David Mills 7
Liam Hulme 6
Neil Holland 6
Chris Clarke 6
Kash Watkins 8
Josh Barlow 8
Subs:
Ashley Cooper 6
Adam Lewis 6
Andy Ballard 8
Lewis Brookes 6
Joe Parkinson 7
Jack Morrison 6
Mark Smith 7
Tries: Mills 8, Hulme 16, Hawkyard 20, Watkins 28, Ainscough 43, Ballard 49. Goals: Birkett 5/6.
NORTH WALES
Tommy Johnson 6
Christian Roets 7
Stuart Reardon 7
Leon Brennan 7
Rob Masam 7
Jamie Durbin 6
Billy Sheen 8
Simon Stevens 8
Dave McConnell 6
Phil Braddish 6
Toby Adamson 8
Andy Gorski 8
Jono Smith 7
Subs:
Ryan McDonald 8
Adam Bowman 7
Lee Hudson 7
Owain Brown 6
Craig White 7
Tries: Gorski 6, Masam 34, Adamson 41. Goals: Johnson 1/3.
Referee: D Sharpe 60/100 / HT: 24-10 / Pens: 2-2 / Sin Bins: None / Sent Off: None / MOTM: L’Anson (Swinton) / Attendance: 645 / Weather: Cold with rain / Match Rating: 3/5.