End Of Season Slaughter..!
Swinton charge into a home play off game on the back of ten wins out of eleven; what is going on!?
Me and Stevo also need to do one more programme now, bit of mixed feelings about that one, as me and Toni are going away to North Wales this weekend and the deadline is Monday! It was also slightly euphoric that we were 'done' for the season after the South Wales one but I'm looking forward to an evening of nonsense when Stevo comes round to work on it on Thursday night!
Swinton Lions 94 South Wales Scorpions 6 by Jeff Tyldesley
The Lions crept into third place to steal a home play off game off York City Knights, thanks to the one-sided but feisty events at Park Lane and what transpired later on at Heworth.
Remarkably, it was the second consecutive Swinton home game where a century of points were scored, both times the Lions coming up handsomely the victor, as they became the division’s top points scorers.
It was harsh on South Wales though, with eighteen players from their squad of thirty four unavailable before the trip, they lost another to illness on the way down, named only fifteen players and suffered a number of injuries throughout the match, which they ended with just twelve.
South Wales were far from demoralised though, they dominated possession in the early stages, yet somehow ended up 18-0 down out of it.
Short, tactical kick offs posed the Lions problems as Scorpions regained the kick off but Curtis Davies’ kick went dead. Swinton, helped by a ballstealing incident against Stuart Littler raced downfield and Shaun Robinson posted the opening points, goaled by Chris Atkin.
Scorpions once again collected a short kick off but couldn’t make Swinton pay, Aaron Lloyd shot through the cover and slipped it to Harry Aaronsen who sped under the sticks. Aaron Lloyd himself grabbed the third score shortly afterwards from close range.
The extra men on the bench were crucial as Swinton stepped up another gear, Tommy Gallagher, on what is strongly rumoured to be his last pro game came off the bench and caused mayhem, Rhodri Lloyd feeding off his powerful charges to score next, while Atkin’s goal rebounded off the post.
More ill-fortune followed for South Wales, as they knocked on a pass to ground from Atkin. It was that man Gallagher battering his way through to score shortly afterwards.
The visitors’ solitary score was very much deserved, Craig Lewis had a try disallowed but earned a scrum. The Welsh persisted, Owain Phillips was grounded just short before Daffydd Hellard fended off some Lions to score, Ben Jones kicked the goal.
Then the curse struck again, with Hellard forced off with a leg injury. Swinton’s only remaining points before the break came when Andy Ackers launched Jimmy Rowland jinking his way to the sticks and Littler flicked a pass out for Robinson to score at the corner, Atkin goaling the former.
The half ended with a few players settling some scores but the referee opting not to issue any cards as a result.
The early stages of the second half were stop-start, to say the least, two more Scorpions picked up injuries, Gethin King and Michael Connor with South Wales forced to reorganise their fractured line up.
Ackers was quick to take advantage, shooting over for the next score, Atkin who was on far from his early season record breaking form with the boot, missed the two points.
The sheer pace of the Lions defeated South Wales next, Atkin and Ackers picked up big yards from dummy half before Mick Govin slipped through the Scorpions’ claws, Atkin again didn’t convert.
Lions’ hooker Ackers was then left frustrated, bouncing the ball when he nearly scored his second try before Govin brought up the half century.
He was nearly on a true hat trick, before yet more treatment from the physio staff was required, as Govin was also injured in a high shot from Phillips.
The Lions got back into the swing of things once more, as Mike Butt raced over in the corner and Rowland’s ball found Littler in position to throw an outrageous dummy to score.
Then a fantastic try, the ball moved swiftly between Atkin and Aaron Lloyd before they allowed Gallagher to take the final pass and dive over. Aaron Lloyd swiftly followed him over in breaching the Scorpions defences from close range for his second.
If this is his final game, Gallagher would have presumably have been happy just getting on the scoresheet but he collected his hat trick with ten minutes remaining instead, cheekily booting over the conversion from right in front too!
Another long range try for Butt followed before The Scorpions frustration seeped through, Craig Lewis dispatched to the sin bin for high shots on firstly Josh Barlow then Littler.
Gallagher entered dreamland as he then collected his fourth try, courtesy of Atkin before Ackers cantered over as the hooter went, Atkin adding his tenth goal of the day.
SWINTON LIONS
Mike Butt 7
Shaun Robinson 7
Stuart Littler 8
Chris Rothwell 8
Harry Aaronsen 8
Jimmy Rowland 7
Chris Atkin 9
Mike Morrison 7
Aaron Lloyd 8
Rob Lever 7
Andy Thornley 8
Rhodri Lloyd 8
Josh Barlow 7
Subs:
Tommy Gallagher 10
Andy Ackers 9
Connor Dwyer 7
Mick Govin 8
Tries: Robinson 5, 38, Aaronsen 10, A Lloyd 15, 70, R Lloyd 20, Gallagher 28, 67, 71, 77, Rowland 34, Atkin 46, Govin 48, 54, Butt 58, 74, Littler 65, Ackers 80.
Goals: Atkin 5, 10, 15, 28, 34, 54, 67, 70, 77, 80. Gallagher 71.
SOUTH WALES SCORPIONS
Paul Edwards 6
Craig Lewis 6
Bradley Hill 6
Marcus Webb 6
Ben Jones 7
Curtis Davies 6
Ryan Millington 6
Owain Phillips 7
Zak Williams 6
Rhys Davies 6
Barrie Philips 6
Michael Connor 6
Connor Davies 6
Subs:
Dafydd Hellard 7
Gethin King 6
Try: Hellard 28. Goal: Jones 28.
Referee: Andy Sweet 70/100 / Half Time: 38-6 / Pens: 8-5 / Sin Bins: Craig Lewis (South Wales - 75 -high tackle) / Sent Off: None / Weather: Sunny and dry / MOTM: Tommy Gallagher (Swinton) / Attendance: 417 / Match Rating: 2/5.
Iron Man - 3pts - Tommy Gallagher, 2pts - Andy Ackers, 1pt - Rhodri Lloyd.
Me and Stevo also need to do one more programme now, bit of mixed feelings about that one, as me and Toni are going away to North Wales this weekend and the deadline is Monday! It was also slightly euphoric that we were 'done' for the season after the South Wales one but I'm looking forward to an evening of nonsense when Stevo comes round to work on it on Thursday night!
Swinton Lions 94 South Wales Scorpions 6 by Jeff Tyldesley
The Lions crept into third place to steal a home play off game off York City Knights, thanks to the one-sided but feisty events at Park Lane and what transpired later on at Heworth.
Remarkably, it was the second consecutive Swinton home game where a century of points were scored, both times the Lions coming up handsomely the victor, as they became the division’s top points scorers.
It was harsh on South Wales though, with eighteen players from their squad of thirty four unavailable before the trip, they lost another to illness on the way down, named only fifteen players and suffered a number of injuries throughout the match, which they ended with just twelve.
South Wales were far from demoralised though, they dominated possession in the early stages, yet somehow ended up 18-0 down out of it.
Short, tactical kick offs posed the Lions problems as Scorpions regained the kick off but Curtis Davies’ kick went dead. Swinton, helped by a ballstealing incident against Stuart Littler raced downfield and Shaun Robinson posted the opening points, goaled by Chris Atkin.
Scorpions once again collected a short kick off but couldn’t make Swinton pay, Aaron Lloyd shot through the cover and slipped it to Harry Aaronsen who sped under the sticks. Aaron Lloyd himself grabbed the third score shortly afterwards from close range.
The extra men on the bench were crucial as Swinton stepped up another gear, Tommy Gallagher, on what is strongly rumoured to be his last pro game came off the bench and caused mayhem, Rhodri Lloyd feeding off his powerful charges to score next, while Atkin’s goal rebounded off the post.
More ill-fortune followed for South Wales, as they knocked on a pass to ground from Atkin. It was that man Gallagher battering his way through to score shortly afterwards.
The visitors’ solitary score was very much deserved, Craig Lewis had a try disallowed but earned a scrum. The Welsh persisted, Owain Phillips was grounded just short before Daffydd Hellard fended off some Lions to score, Ben Jones kicked the goal.
Then the curse struck again, with Hellard forced off with a leg injury. Swinton’s only remaining points before the break came when Andy Ackers launched Jimmy Rowland jinking his way to the sticks and Littler flicked a pass out for Robinson to score at the corner, Atkin goaling the former.
The half ended with a few players settling some scores but the referee opting not to issue any cards as a result.
The early stages of the second half were stop-start, to say the least, two more Scorpions picked up injuries, Gethin King and Michael Connor with South Wales forced to reorganise their fractured line up.
Ackers was quick to take advantage, shooting over for the next score, Atkin who was on far from his early season record breaking form with the boot, missed the two points.
The sheer pace of the Lions defeated South Wales next, Atkin and Ackers picked up big yards from dummy half before Mick Govin slipped through the Scorpions’ claws, Atkin again didn’t convert.
Lions’ hooker Ackers was then left frustrated, bouncing the ball when he nearly scored his second try before Govin brought up the half century.
He was nearly on a true hat trick, before yet more treatment from the physio staff was required, as Govin was also injured in a high shot from Phillips.
The Lions got back into the swing of things once more, as Mike Butt raced over in the corner and Rowland’s ball found Littler in position to throw an outrageous dummy to score.
Then a fantastic try, the ball moved swiftly between Atkin and Aaron Lloyd before they allowed Gallagher to take the final pass and dive over. Aaron Lloyd swiftly followed him over in breaching the Scorpions defences from close range for his second.
If this is his final game, Gallagher would have presumably have been happy just getting on the scoresheet but he collected his hat trick with ten minutes remaining instead, cheekily booting over the conversion from right in front too!
Another long range try for Butt followed before The Scorpions frustration seeped through, Craig Lewis dispatched to the sin bin for high shots on firstly Josh Barlow then Littler.
Gallagher entered dreamland as he then collected his fourth try, courtesy of Atkin before Ackers cantered over as the hooter went, Atkin adding his tenth goal of the day.
SWINTON LIONS
Mike Butt 7
Shaun Robinson 7
Stuart Littler 8
Chris Rothwell 8
Harry Aaronsen 8
Jimmy Rowland 7
Chris Atkin 9
Mike Morrison 7
Aaron Lloyd 8
Rob Lever 7
Andy Thornley 8
Rhodri Lloyd 8
Josh Barlow 7
Subs:
Tommy Gallagher 10
Andy Ackers 9
Connor Dwyer 7
Mick Govin 8
Tries: Robinson 5, 38, Aaronsen 10, A Lloyd 15, 70, R Lloyd 20, Gallagher 28, 67, 71, 77, Rowland 34, Atkin 46, Govin 48, 54, Butt 58, 74, Littler 65, Ackers 80.
Goals: Atkin 5, 10, 15, 28, 34, 54, 67, 70, 77, 80. Gallagher 71.
SOUTH WALES SCORPIONS
Paul Edwards 6
Craig Lewis 6
Bradley Hill 6
Marcus Webb 6
Ben Jones 7
Curtis Davies 6
Ryan Millington 6
Owain Phillips 7
Zak Williams 6
Rhys Davies 6
Barrie Philips 6
Michael Connor 6
Connor Davies 6
Subs:
Dafydd Hellard 7
Gethin King 6
Try: Hellard 28. Goal: Jones 28.
Referee: Andy Sweet 70/100 / Half Time: 38-6 / Pens: 8-5 / Sin Bins: Craig Lewis (South Wales - 75 -high tackle) / Sent Off: None / Weather: Sunny and dry / MOTM: Tommy Gallagher (Swinton) / Attendance: 417 / Match Rating: 2/5.
Iron Man - 3pts - Tommy Gallagher, 2pts - Andy Ackers, 1pt - Rhodri Lloyd.