It's Not Just Iceland Having A Rough Day..!
Halifax gave Swinton the worst defeat of the season so far, here's the report sent to League Weekly:
Swinton Lions 12 Halifax 62 by Jeff Tyldesley
Halifax gained ample revenge for the Lions’ upset victory at the Shay earlier in the season by walloping Swinton while moving closer to securing a top four spot in the process.
Unlike in the contest earlier in the season, where ‘Fax raced into a comfortable lead before an incredible comeback, the Yorkshiremen were wise to the danger here and didn’t relent until the final hooter.
Things went wrong from the Lions from the very beginning, the kick off was knocked on giving Halifax great field position, from where the ball was worked left for Ben Johnston to dummy and race over, Steve Tyrer goaled.
Swinton were also on the end of a battering on the penalty count throughout, Dan Fleming was spotted ballstealing and Halifax capitalised as Scott Murrell and Johnston released Ed Barber to go bounding in.
Halifax turned on the razzmatazz in a fine team try, Adam Tangata’s tremendous offload found Gareth Moore who sent in Barber for his second try in just under quarter of an hour.
At the other end, there was precious little for the Swinton fans to get excited about but Halifax scored another from distance, James Saltonstall left the Lions for dust from seventy metres out before timing the pass to Johnston to perfection.
One replacement from each side was then put on report for an incident which ended with use of the fists, Josh Barlow for Swinton and Richard Moore for Halifax.
This didn’t interrupt Fax’s flow for long, Johnston nearly prised another opening for Barber but he was held up. Then Murrell’s kick took an outrageous bounce away from Swinton into Will Sharp’s arms for him to score, Tyrer had kicked four out of five up to this point.
Around half time was Swinton’s strongest part of the game, they opened their account with Chris Atkin releasing Rhodri Lloyd, who squirmed out of a couple of tacklers’ grasps to score, with the former converting.
The hooter also went shortly after a Tangata late hit yielded a penalty which Swinton didn’t have the time to accomplish anything with.
Halifax were held out for a full quarter of an hour, for the only time in the game, although that ended abruptly when Murrell barged his way past the Lions’ defence, leaving Tyrer a formality under the sticks.
It was Swinton’s turn to go close next, as a Stuart Littler grubber onto the post caused havoc but was tidied up well by Johnston. In the last quarter of the game however, it was all Halifax as they nearly doubled their points tally.
Barber completed his hat trick on the hour mark, meeting Murrell’s flat pass and crashing through some Swinton defenders.
The Lions claimed their only second half points when Ben White did exceedingly well to get a grubber away under pressure and Gabriel Fell swooped on it to score, Matty Beharrall converting.
Beharrall’s astute chip and chase was nearly regathered were it not for Jacob Fairbank’s trip on the scrum half, for which he was rightly sin binned.
This didn’t derail the visitors and while reduced to twelve, they had one of their most prolific spells, Gavin Bennion fended off White before sending in Gareth Moore for the next try.
Then it was big prop Mitch Cahalane’s turn to step through some tired defence from Swinton before planting the ball under the posts, Ben Kaye then set up Bennion to do likewise after a meandering run across the Lions’ line.
It was almost as if the prop forwards were taking turns to score at the end, after Swinton’s kick off didn’t go the required ten metres, Luke Ambler touching down through the decimated Lions. The division’s top goalkicker Tyrer missed his final one to ironic boos but like many of his teammates, played so well for Halifax.
SWINTON LIONS
22. Gabriel Fell 7
2. Shaun Robinson 6
3. Stuart Littler 8
4. Macaulay Hallett 6
18. Liam Marshall 6
1. Chris Atkin 6
7. Matty Beharrall 7
26. Dan Fleming 6
24. Luke Waterworth 7
16. Ben Austin 6
11. Rhodri Lloyd 7
12. Andy Thornley 6
13. Rob Lever 6
SUBS:
6. Ben White 7
10. Jordan Hand 7
19. Josh Barlow 7
28. Zach Johnson 6
Tries: Lloyd 36, Fell 64.
Goals: Atkin 1/1, Beharrall 1/1.
HALIFAX
1. Ben Johnston 8
5. James Saltonstall 8
26. Ed Barber 8
3. Steve Tyrer 8
5. Will Sharp 7
7. Gareth Moore 8
6. Scott Murrell 8
8. Mitch Cahalane 8
9. Ben Kaye 8
10. Luke Ambler 7
12. Simon Grix 8
14. Adam Tangata 8
13. Jacob Fairbank 7
SUBS:
16. Richard Moore 7
17. Gavin Bennion 8
22. Connor Robinson 8
34. Ryan Boyle 7
Tries: Johnston 1, 21, Barber 6, 14, 60, Sharp 33, Murrell 48, G Moore 70, Cahalane 74, Bennion 77, Ambler 80.
Goals: Tyrer 9/11
Ref Rating: W Turley 70/100
Half Time: 6-28
Penalties: 5-11
Sin Bins: Fairbank (Halifax - 67 - tripping)
Sent Off: None
Man of the Match: Scott Murrell (Halifax)
Weather: Warm and sunny
Attendance: 1,017
Match Rating: 3/5
Swinton Lions 12 Halifax 62 by Jeff Tyldesley
Halifax gained ample revenge for the Lions’ upset victory at the Shay earlier in the season by walloping Swinton while moving closer to securing a top four spot in the process.
Unlike in the contest earlier in the season, where ‘Fax raced into a comfortable lead before an incredible comeback, the Yorkshiremen were wise to the danger here and didn’t relent until the final hooter.
Things went wrong from the Lions from the very beginning, the kick off was knocked on giving Halifax great field position, from where the ball was worked left for Ben Johnston to dummy and race over, Steve Tyrer goaled.
Swinton were also on the end of a battering on the penalty count throughout, Dan Fleming was spotted ballstealing and Halifax capitalised as Scott Murrell and Johnston released Ed Barber to go bounding in.
Halifax turned on the razzmatazz in a fine team try, Adam Tangata’s tremendous offload found Gareth Moore who sent in Barber for his second try in just under quarter of an hour.
At the other end, there was precious little for the Swinton fans to get excited about but Halifax scored another from distance, James Saltonstall left the Lions for dust from seventy metres out before timing the pass to Johnston to perfection.
One replacement from each side was then put on report for an incident which ended with use of the fists, Josh Barlow for Swinton and Richard Moore for Halifax.
This didn’t interrupt Fax’s flow for long, Johnston nearly prised another opening for Barber but he was held up. Then Murrell’s kick took an outrageous bounce away from Swinton into Will Sharp’s arms for him to score, Tyrer had kicked four out of five up to this point.
Around half time was Swinton’s strongest part of the game, they opened their account with Chris Atkin releasing Rhodri Lloyd, who squirmed out of a couple of tacklers’ grasps to score, with the former converting.
The hooter also went shortly after a Tangata late hit yielded a penalty which Swinton didn’t have the time to accomplish anything with.
Halifax were held out for a full quarter of an hour, for the only time in the game, although that ended abruptly when Murrell barged his way past the Lions’ defence, leaving Tyrer a formality under the sticks.
It was Swinton’s turn to go close next, as a Stuart Littler grubber onto the post caused havoc but was tidied up well by Johnston. In the last quarter of the game however, it was all Halifax as they nearly doubled their points tally.
Barber completed his hat trick on the hour mark, meeting Murrell’s flat pass and crashing through some Swinton defenders.
The Lions claimed their only second half points when Ben White did exceedingly well to get a grubber away under pressure and Gabriel Fell swooped on it to score, Matty Beharrall converting.
Beharrall’s astute chip and chase was nearly regathered were it not for Jacob Fairbank’s trip on the scrum half, for which he was rightly sin binned.
This didn’t derail the visitors and while reduced to twelve, they had one of their most prolific spells, Gavin Bennion fended off White before sending in Gareth Moore for the next try.
Then it was big prop Mitch Cahalane’s turn to step through some tired defence from Swinton before planting the ball under the posts, Ben Kaye then set up Bennion to do likewise after a meandering run across the Lions’ line.
It was almost as if the prop forwards were taking turns to score at the end, after Swinton’s kick off didn’t go the required ten metres, Luke Ambler touching down through the decimated Lions. The division’s top goalkicker Tyrer missed his final one to ironic boos but like many of his teammates, played so well for Halifax.
SWINTON LIONS
22. Gabriel Fell 7
2. Shaun Robinson 6
3. Stuart Littler 8
4. Macaulay Hallett 6
18. Liam Marshall 6
1. Chris Atkin 6
7. Matty Beharrall 7
26. Dan Fleming 6
24. Luke Waterworth 7
16. Ben Austin 6
11. Rhodri Lloyd 7
12. Andy Thornley 6
13. Rob Lever 6
SUBS:
6. Ben White 7
10. Jordan Hand 7
19. Josh Barlow 7
28. Zach Johnson 6
Tries: Lloyd 36, Fell 64.
Goals: Atkin 1/1, Beharrall 1/1.
HALIFAX
1. Ben Johnston 8
5. James Saltonstall 8
26. Ed Barber 8
3. Steve Tyrer 8
5. Will Sharp 7
7. Gareth Moore 8
6. Scott Murrell 8
8. Mitch Cahalane 8
9. Ben Kaye 8
10. Luke Ambler 7
12. Simon Grix 8
14. Adam Tangata 8
13. Jacob Fairbank 7
SUBS:
16. Richard Moore 7
17. Gavin Bennion 8
22. Connor Robinson 8
34. Ryan Boyle 7
Tries: Johnston 1, 21, Barber 6, 14, 60, Sharp 33, Murrell 48, G Moore 70, Cahalane 74, Bennion 77, Ambler 80.
Goals: Tyrer 9/11
Ref Rating: W Turley 70/100
Half Time: 6-28
Penalties: 5-11
Sin Bins: Fairbank (Halifax - 67 - tripping)
Sent Off: None
Man of the Match: Scott Murrell (Halifax)
Weather: Warm and sunny
Attendance: 1,017
Match Rating: 3/5