Unsigned Menzie Yere Mugs..!
With this game, it looked like Swinton blew their final chance at Championship redemption (salvation was heading in, from an improbable source but more of that later...)
Here's the League Weekly report, this was tough to write (at the time):
Swinton Lions 18 Sheffield Eagles 26 by Jeff Tyldesley
If the Lions had held onto their ten point half time lead and used their extra man advantage, they could have ended the game just league four points behind the Eagles and safety.
Instead, it was Sheffield who returned after the interval full of zeal, the lead evaporated while they were down a player and ultimately, Heywood Road reverberated to the sounds of “We are staying up!” from the Eagles fans at the end.
Now, Swinton lie seven points behind Barrow above them, with just ten points to play for and ominously, games with Leigh and Featherstone still lying ahead in the Championship Shield.
It was a predictably tentative beginning to the game from both sides in slippery conditions, Sheffield having the best of opportunities but knock ons in dangerous positions from Mark Offerdahl and James Bentley cost them.
Swinton however were not as generous, a precision high kick to the corner saw Joe Brown using his height to collect and touch down, Rob Fairclough coolly added the goal.
The Eagles pulled a try back with an element of farce, as the Lions defenders refused to pick the ball up and concede an offside penalty, Sheffield quickwittedly shifted it left to where Menzie Yere was lurking to crash over, Cory Aston’s attempted conversion was not to be.
Mike Butt nearly transformed chaos into a glorious four points, a slipshod pass was picked up and kicked ahead but Corey Makelim slid in to claim the ball, just ahead of the Lions’ winger.
The visitors were then also denied a try when Rhodri Lloyd was clattered in the air going for a kick, which Bentley would have walked in.
It was Lions who had the impetus at the end of the first half, Josh Ganson’s chip and chase so nearly yielded results, Josh Woods was held up over the line before Oscar Thomas spilled Fairclough’s smart kick and he followed up his own effort to pounce.
Fairclough converted and another long kick targeting a 40-20 was batted back into play by the covering Yere, Butt regathered and was held down by Thomas, who was duly sin binned. Swinton mulled over going for a try but with twenty seconds on the clock, took an easy shot at goal.
You wouldn’t have known that the Lions had a player advantage, as Sheffield upped their enthusiasm and even crossed for the opening try of the second half, Ben Blackmore was held up but they couldn’t keep out Simon Brown moments later.
Simon Brown nearly galloped over for another and a forward pass to Jon Magrin kyboshed another Sheffield chance before a Blackmore burst from dummy half, a rampaging run from Yere and a calm finish from Simon Brown later, the Eagles lead.
Twice Blackmore nearly intercepted looping passes towards Joe Brown from Jack Hansen and Woods but on the opposite flank, Butt wouldn’t be denied out wide, for the only Swinton score of the day where Fairclough didn’t add the extras.
Simon Brown’s sphere of influence on the game was ever-rising and another of his kicks created a decisive score for Bentley, his conversion rattling over via the crossbar.
Another pinpoint kick to the corner trapped Jack Hansen near his line, bruising defence saw Sheffield come up with the ball, leading to Magrin charging over, which Simon Brown of course improved upon.
Had Joe Brown managed to cling on to the ball following Jack Hansen’s swift break down the left hand side, it may have been a different last few minutes but the Eagles stayed the course for two invaluable points.
SWINTON LIONS
7. Jack Hansen 8
5. Mike Butt 8
4. George Tyson 6
11. Rhodri Lloyd 8
32. Joe Brown 7
30. Rob Fairclough 8
31. Josh Woods 7
8. Andy Bracek 6
9. Luke Waterworth 6
15. Ben Austin 6
10. Andy Thornley 6
17. Kyle Shelford 7
14. Hayden Hansen 7
Subs:
33. Josh Ganson 7
24. Aaron Hall 7
34. Paddy Jones 8
21. Chris Worrall 6
Tries: Brown 10, Fairclough 38, Butt 65. Goals: Fairclough 3/4.
SHEFFIELD EAGLES
29. Corey Makelim 8
6. Oscar Thomas 6
3. Menzie Yere 7
4. Josh Toole 6
5. Ben Blackmore 7
19. Simon Brown 9
23. Corey Aston 7
8. Mark Offerdahl 6
14. Greg Burns 7
12. Shaun Pick 7
13. James Mathew 6
26. James Bentley 6
9. Matty Fozard 7
Subs:
22. Patrick Burns 8
15. Oliver Davies 6
18. Michael Weldon 6
10. Jon Magrin 8
Tries: Yere 16, Brown 45, 57, Bentley 70, Magrin 73. Goals: Aston 0/1, Brown 3/4.
Ref Rating: Matt Rossleigh 85/100
Half Time: 14-4
Penalties: 5-4
Sin Bins: Thomas (40 - professional foul)
Sent Off: None
Weather: Grey and drizzly
Attendance: 420
Man of the Match: Simon Brown (Sheffield)
Match Rating: 2/5
Here's the League Weekly report, this was tough to write (at the time):
Swinton Lions 18 Sheffield Eagles 26 by Jeff Tyldesley
If the Lions had held onto their ten point half time lead and used their extra man advantage, they could have ended the game just league four points behind the Eagles and safety.
Instead, it was Sheffield who returned after the interval full of zeal, the lead evaporated while they were down a player and ultimately, Heywood Road reverberated to the sounds of “We are staying up!” from the Eagles fans at the end.
Now, Swinton lie seven points behind Barrow above them, with just ten points to play for and ominously, games with Leigh and Featherstone still lying ahead in the Championship Shield.
It was a predictably tentative beginning to the game from both sides in slippery conditions, Sheffield having the best of opportunities but knock ons in dangerous positions from Mark Offerdahl and James Bentley cost them.
Swinton however were not as generous, a precision high kick to the corner saw Joe Brown using his height to collect and touch down, Rob Fairclough coolly added the goal.
The Eagles pulled a try back with an element of farce, as the Lions defenders refused to pick the ball up and concede an offside penalty, Sheffield quickwittedly shifted it left to where Menzie Yere was lurking to crash over, Cory Aston’s attempted conversion was not to be.
Mike Butt nearly transformed chaos into a glorious four points, a slipshod pass was picked up and kicked ahead but Corey Makelim slid in to claim the ball, just ahead of the Lions’ winger.
The visitors were then also denied a try when Rhodri Lloyd was clattered in the air going for a kick, which Bentley would have walked in.
It was Lions who had the impetus at the end of the first half, Josh Ganson’s chip and chase so nearly yielded results, Josh Woods was held up over the line before Oscar Thomas spilled Fairclough’s smart kick and he followed up his own effort to pounce.
Fairclough converted and another long kick targeting a 40-20 was batted back into play by the covering Yere, Butt regathered and was held down by Thomas, who was duly sin binned. Swinton mulled over going for a try but with twenty seconds on the clock, took an easy shot at goal.
You wouldn’t have known that the Lions had a player advantage, as Sheffield upped their enthusiasm and even crossed for the opening try of the second half, Ben Blackmore was held up but they couldn’t keep out Simon Brown moments later.
Simon Brown nearly galloped over for another and a forward pass to Jon Magrin kyboshed another Sheffield chance before a Blackmore burst from dummy half, a rampaging run from Yere and a calm finish from Simon Brown later, the Eagles lead.
Twice Blackmore nearly intercepted looping passes towards Joe Brown from Jack Hansen and Woods but on the opposite flank, Butt wouldn’t be denied out wide, for the only Swinton score of the day where Fairclough didn’t add the extras.
Simon Brown’s sphere of influence on the game was ever-rising and another of his kicks created a decisive score for Bentley, his conversion rattling over via the crossbar.
Another pinpoint kick to the corner trapped Jack Hansen near his line, bruising defence saw Sheffield come up with the ball, leading to Magrin charging over, which Simon Brown of course improved upon.
Had Joe Brown managed to cling on to the ball following Jack Hansen’s swift break down the left hand side, it may have been a different last few minutes but the Eagles stayed the course for two invaluable points.
SWINTON LIONS
7. Jack Hansen 8
5. Mike Butt 8
4. George Tyson 6
11. Rhodri Lloyd 8
32. Joe Brown 7
30. Rob Fairclough 8
31. Josh Woods 7
8. Andy Bracek 6
9. Luke Waterworth 6
15. Ben Austin 6
10. Andy Thornley 6
17. Kyle Shelford 7
14. Hayden Hansen 7
Subs:
33. Josh Ganson 7
24. Aaron Hall 7
34. Paddy Jones 8
21. Chris Worrall 6
Tries: Brown 10, Fairclough 38, Butt 65. Goals: Fairclough 3/4.
SHEFFIELD EAGLES
29. Corey Makelim 8
6. Oscar Thomas 6
3. Menzie Yere 7
4. Josh Toole 6
5. Ben Blackmore 7
19. Simon Brown 9
23. Corey Aston 7
8. Mark Offerdahl 6
14. Greg Burns 7
12. Shaun Pick 7
13. James Mathew 6
26. James Bentley 6
9. Matty Fozard 7
Subs:
22. Patrick Burns 8
15. Oliver Davies 6
18. Michael Weldon 6
10. Jon Magrin 8
Tries: Yere 16, Brown 45, 57, Bentley 70, Magrin 73. Goals: Aston 0/1, Brown 3/4.
Ref Rating: Matt Rossleigh 85/100
Half Time: 14-4
Penalties: 5-4
Sin Bins: Thomas (40 - professional foul)
Sent Off: None
Weather: Grey and drizzly
Attendance: 420
Man of the Match: Simon Brown (Sheffield)
Match Rating: 2/5