Five In A Row..!
Five in a row, including wins at Batley and Halifax, just out of this world! Here's what the League Weekly got:
Swinton Lions 32 Whitehaven 26 by Jeff Tyldesley
While much of the country looked on at Leicester City at Old Trafford, just a few miles away, another surprise blue and white revolution marched onwards.
After Swinton lost their first seven games in the Championship, following their play-off victory in Championship 1, not many would have put money on the Lions being 10 points better off, after their first dozen matches at this level.
Yet here John Duffy’s men are, entertainingly averaging 31 points a match over the past five games and in a typically exciting manner, the Lions moved up into 8th in the League Table.
Admittedly, this one didn’t start well, Swinton immediately conceding a penalty before being trapped in-goal by Whitehaven. Grant Gore nearly dummied his way over before Louis Jouffret laid on a grubber kick for Jessie-Joe Parker to dive onto, which the stand off then converted.
The Lions were swiftly back on level terms, Rhodri Lloyd busting the line, Stuart Littler supporting before wisely releasing for Ben White to finish off, Chris Atkin added the goal.
After a tempting long kick from John-Paul Brocklebank lured Gabe Fell into going into touch in possession, ‘Haven were again knocking on the door but Gore’s kick was too far for Chris Taylor.
Then ‘Haven showed their danger from deep, a great break from Ed Chamberlain, he shipped the ball to Taylor then latterly Jouffret. The best was yet to come though, an Atkin pass went behind the Swinton players, Jordan Burns was alive to it, stepped away from Fell, wrongfooted Shaun Robinson on the mushy turf and made for the corner for a brilliant length of the pitch try. Both were goaled in a nerveless fashion by Jouffret.
When Parker touched down a kick left to run dead by Fell, you’d have forgiven for Swinton were heading to defeat but the Lions never-say-die attitude remains from their 2015 play-off campaign and Fell made up for his gaffe at one end with some direct running at the other, off of which Macaulay Hallett span out of three tacklers to score.
Another fine visitors’ try followed on the hooter, with Parker than Dion Aiye’s fingertip handling releasing Connor Holliday at the corner.
It was a competitive opening ten minutes in the second half, Swinton going closest with White and Josh Barlow nearly combining to send the former player over.
However, the tide began to turn when Fell shot through a gap in the Whitehaven line, Chamberlain got a good hit on him but the Lions’ full back prevailed and rolled over the line to score.
Atkin, Connor Dwyer and Fell all again then showed good hands to provide Hallett with his second tryscoring opportunity of the day.
It was so nearly ‘Haven over next but James Newton was held on his back by some desperate cover, Swinton romped down the field and a grubber from White wasn’t hacked dead by Aiye, allowing Lloyd to clean up, a third Atkin goal in a row giving Swinton the lead.
Now, it was the Cumbrians turn to press, Taylor reaped the ball from Rob Lever’s arms one on one following a kick behind the line but was offside at the initial kick, Hallett denied Parker a hat trick by booting a ball dead then Nicholson crunched Jouffret in a hazardous position and the ball was lost.
Still, the match could have gone either way with three minutes to go, Barlow lost the ball to Liam Carberry just ten yards out, Whitehaven possessed an overlap… but Liam Marshall read their minds to intercept and run eighty leg-sapping metres before diving triumphantly for the corner to end all doubt!
A missed goal gave ‘Haven a glimmer but Littler decisively palmed back the short kick off to White and Swinton’s set ran down the clock sufficiently for the Lions to hold on.
SWINTON LIONS
22. Gabriel Fell 7
2. Shaun Robinson 7
3. Stuart Littler 8
4. Macauley Hallett 8
18. Liam Marshall 8
6. Ben White 7
1. Chris Atkin 7
8. Mike Morrison 7
9. Anthony Nicholson 7
13. Rob Lever 7
23. Rhodri Lloyd 8
11. Connor Dwyer 7
12. Andy Thornley 7
Subs:
19. Josh Barlow 7
7. Matty Beharrall 8
NN. Andy Bracek 6
16. Ben Austin 6
Tries: White 7, Hallett 36, 55, Fell 53, Lloyd 60, Marshall 77. Goals: Atkin 4/5.
WHITEHAVEN
28. Ed Chamberlain 8
20. Jordan Burns 7
3. Chris Taylor 7
4. Jessie Joe-Parker 8
16. Connor Holliday 8
1. Louis Jouffret 7
7. Grant Gore 7
19. Glenn Riley 7
21. John-Paul Brocklehurst 8
8. Sam Brooks 6
11. Dave Allen 7
6. Dion Aiye 8
13. Liam Carberry 8
SUBS:
9. James Newton 8
31. Ryan Duffy 7
27. Jay Chapelhow 8
26. Ted Chapelhow 7
Tries: Parker 3, 30, Jouffret 18, Burns 23, Halliday 40. Goals: Jouffret 3/5.
Ref Rating: C. Kendall 65/100
Half Time: 10-26
Penalties: 5-7
Sin Bins: None
Sent Off: None
Man of the Match: Liam Marshall (Swinton)
Attendance: 711
Match Rating: 5/5
Swinton Lions 32 Whitehaven 26 by Jeff Tyldesley
While much of the country looked on at Leicester City at Old Trafford, just a few miles away, another surprise blue and white revolution marched onwards.
After Swinton lost their first seven games in the Championship, following their play-off victory in Championship 1, not many would have put money on the Lions being 10 points better off, after their first dozen matches at this level.
Yet here John Duffy’s men are, entertainingly averaging 31 points a match over the past five games and in a typically exciting manner, the Lions moved up into 8th in the League Table.
Admittedly, this one didn’t start well, Swinton immediately conceding a penalty before being trapped in-goal by Whitehaven. Grant Gore nearly dummied his way over before Louis Jouffret laid on a grubber kick for Jessie-Joe Parker to dive onto, which the stand off then converted.
The Lions were swiftly back on level terms, Rhodri Lloyd busting the line, Stuart Littler supporting before wisely releasing for Ben White to finish off, Chris Atkin added the goal.
After a tempting long kick from John-Paul Brocklebank lured Gabe Fell into going into touch in possession, ‘Haven were again knocking on the door but Gore’s kick was too far for Chris Taylor.
Then ‘Haven showed their danger from deep, a great break from Ed Chamberlain, he shipped the ball to Taylor then latterly Jouffret. The best was yet to come though, an Atkin pass went behind the Swinton players, Jordan Burns was alive to it, stepped away from Fell, wrongfooted Shaun Robinson on the mushy turf and made for the corner for a brilliant length of the pitch try. Both were goaled in a nerveless fashion by Jouffret.
When Parker touched down a kick left to run dead by Fell, you’d have forgiven for Swinton were heading to defeat but the Lions never-say-die attitude remains from their 2015 play-off campaign and Fell made up for his gaffe at one end with some direct running at the other, off of which Macaulay Hallett span out of three tacklers to score.
Another fine visitors’ try followed on the hooter, with Parker than Dion Aiye’s fingertip handling releasing Connor Holliday at the corner.
It was a competitive opening ten minutes in the second half, Swinton going closest with White and Josh Barlow nearly combining to send the former player over.
However, the tide began to turn when Fell shot through a gap in the Whitehaven line, Chamberlain got a good hit on him but the Lions’ full back prevailed and rolled over the line to score.
Atkin, Connor Dwyer and Fell all again then showed good hands to provide Hallett with his second tryscoring opportunity of the day.
It was so nearly ‘Haven over next but James Newton was held on his back by some desperate cover, Swinton romped down the field and a grubber from White wasn’t hacked dead by Aiye, allowing Lloyd to clean up, a third Atkin goal in a row giving Swinton the lead.
Now, it was the Cumbrians turn to press, Taylor reaped the ball from Rob Lever’s arms one on one following a kick behind the line but was offside at the initial kick, Hallett denied Parker a hat trick by booting a ball dead then Nicholson crunched Jouffret in a hazardous position and the ball was lost.
Still, the match could have gone either way with three minutes to go, Barlow lost the ball to Liam Carberry just ten yards out, Whitehaven possessed an overlap… but Liam Marshall read their minds to intercept and run eighty leg-sapping metres before diving triumphantly for the corner to end all doubt!
A missed goal gave ‘Haven a glimmer but Littler decisively palmed back the short kick off to White and Swinton’s set ran down the clock sufficiently for the Lions to hold on.
SWINTON LIONS
22. Gabriel Fell 7
2. Shaun Robinson 7
3. Stuart Littler 8
4. Macauley Hallett 8
18. Liam Marshall 8
6. Ben White 7
1. Chris Atkin 7
8. Mike Morrison 7
9. Anthony Nicholson 7
13. Rob Lever 7
23. Rhodri Lloyd 8
11. Connor Dwyer 7
12. Andy Thornley 7
Subs:
19. Josh Barlow 7
7. Matty Beharrall 8
NN. Andy Bracek 6
16. Ben Austin 6
Tries: White 7, Hallett 36, 55, Fell 53, Lloyd 60, Marshall 77. Goals: Atkin 4/5.
WHITEHAVEN
28. Ed Chamberlain 8
20. Jordan Burns 7
3. Chris Taylor 7
4. Jessie Joe-Parker 8
16. Connor Holliday 8
1. Louis Jouffret 7
7. Grant Gore 7
19. Glenn Riley 7
21. John-Paul Brocklehurst 8
8. Sam Brooks 6
11. Dave Allen 7
6. Dion Aiye 8
13. Liam Carberry 8
SUBS:
9. James Newton 8
31. Ryan Duffy 7
27. Jay Chapelhow 8
26. Ted Chapelhow 7
Tries: Parker 3, 30, Jouffret 18, Burns 23, Halliday 40. Goals: Jouffret 3/5.
Ref Rating: C. Kendall 65/100
Half Time: 10-26
Penalties: 5-7
Sin Bins: None
Sent Off: None
Man of the Match: Liam Marshall (Swinton)
Attendance: 711
Match Rating: 5/5