Lazy Journal Entry Just For Paul Crookell #1!!
Yeah, so I am pretty knackered from football, so here is why last weekend was great rugby-wise...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/5359770.stm
Hahahahah! And then this...
Swinton Lions progressed to the Final Eliminator of the NL2 play offs next week at Bridgend by beating Featherstone Rovers.
Considering Swinton last triumphed at Featherstone the year Martin Luther King was shot, it was a magnificent victory!
They also gave a demonstration to their local rivals of how to perform play off rugby on the road! Taking chances when they came and following some excellent defence ensuring they were in the game at the break.
It’s not as if Featherstone didn’t have any chances, Swinton’s indiscipline and Peter Taberner’s fussiness saw Stuart Dickens presented with a trio of kickable penalties in the first half, he kicked only one. 0-2
Dale Cardoza ran straight over his opposite centre Darren Woods only for Wayne English to apply a superb last gasp tackle and when English was at fault, letting a high ball bounce Marlon Billy covered and protected the ball sensationally.
Firstly Ian Sinfield for interference then Lee Marsh for verbal abuse were both sin binned leaving Swinton briefly down to eleven - yet the Lions defence still did not yield.
Out of nowhere came Swinton’s killer instinct, the ball was moved wide to the left and Paul Alcock crashed over.
In one of a series of strange but technically correct decisions, Swinton tried to sub on Chris Hough to take the conversion, the referee ordered him back off and Liam McGovern back on to narrowly miss the kick. 4-2
Another muddle came with the next try right on half time. Swinton had been awarded a penalty; Marsh opted for the two points however as it was a differential penalty that wasn’t allowed. The hooter then sounded and in the confusion Marsh coolly chipped for the corner where Andy Saywell surged onto it to score. 8-2
Havoc ensued! The Fev players argued bitterly with the referee and the Lions, a full- scale brawl nearly broke out. Meanwhile on the terraces, an elderly gentleman cracked his head open and received medical treatment after a terrace surge on the frankly decrepit terraces.
Once again, the attempt at the extras from the sideline was close but not on target. After all that, everyone needed a breather!
Rovers drew level soon after half time when Salford reject prop Stuart Dickens barged his way over and converted it himself. 8-8
Swinton went back ahead as Marsh charged through a gap in the Rovers defence before finding Woods to score. Hough added an excellent touchline two pointer. 14-8
The Lions large, noisy following sensed it would be their day as Kris Smith dummied through, stumbled, got up again and dived over under the sticks, Hough gleefully added the kick. 20-8
Loose forward Marsh then smartly punted over a drop goal so Featherstone had to score three times to win. 21-8
Then a startling team effort, Marsh and Wood running across at pace teased the Featherstone line before unleashing Woods, who popped the ball superbly up and over the defender’s reach for Saywell to speed onto to score. Hough didn’t miss either. 27-8
The slightly delayed kick off meant Swinton still had to nearly 10 minutes to hold on and still there was tension as Dickens snatched another try and converted it. Scrum half Andy Speak flicked a ‘V’ sign to the Lions supporters as they sang: “Can we play you every week?” in the aftermath.
Fev clung to their unlikely hopes and came forward forcefully but Wayne McHugh knocked on with the line close and their hopes fell to earth along with the ball. 27-14
Exultant scenes followed, and as the Lions fans chanted near the end: “Celtic, you are next, Celtic, Celtic, you are next!”
Swinton: Wayne English, Andy Saywell, Darren Woods, Paul Alcock, Marlon Billy, Martin Moana, Liam McGovern, Bruce Johnson, Phil Wood, Dave Newton, Kris Smith, Ian Sinfield, Lee Marsh
SUBS: Chris Hough, Chris Morley, Steve McCurrie, Ian Parry
Featherstone: Nathan Larvin, Danny Kirmond, Wayne McHugh, Dale Cardoza, Matty Wray, Richard Blakeway, Andy Speak, Ian Tonks, Gavin Swinson, Stuart Dickens, Steve Dooler, James Houston, Carl Hughes
SUBS: Paul Hughes, Jamie L’Anson, Craig Moss, Chris Birchall
Referee: Peter Taberner (Wigan)
MOTM: Swinton - Chris Hough, Featherstone - Dale Cardoza
Attendance: 1,205
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/5359770.stm
Hahahahah! And then this...
Swinton Lions progressed to the Final Eliminator of the NL2 play offs next week at Bridgend by beating Featherstone Rovers.
Considering Swinton last triumphed at Featherstone the year Martin Luther King was shot, it was a magnificent victory!
They also gave a demonstration to their local rivals of how to perform play off rugby on the road! Taking chances when they came and following some excellent defence ensuring they were in the game at the break.
It’s not as if Featherstone didn’t have any chances, Swinton’s indiscipline and Peter Taberner’s fussiness saw Stuart Dickens presented with a trio of kickable penalties in the first half, he kicked only one. 0-2
Dale Cardoza ran straight over his opposite centre Darren Woods only for Wayne English to apply a superb last gasp tackle and when English was at fault, letting a high ball bounce Marlon Billy covered and protected the ball sensationally.
Firstly Ian Sinfield for interference then Lee Marsh for verbal abuse were both sin binned leaving Swinton briefly down to eleven - yet the Lions defence still did not yield.
Out of nowhere came Swinton’s killer instinct, the ball was moved wide to the left and Paul Alcock crashed over.
In one of a series of strange but technically correct decisions, Swinton tried to sub on Chris Hough to take the conversion, the referee ordered him back off and Liam McGovern back on to narrowly miss the kick. 4-2
Another muddle came with the next try right on half time. Swinton had been awarded a penalty; Marsh opted for the two points however as it was a differential penalty that wasn’t allowed. The hooter then sounded and in the confusion Marsh coolly chipped for the corner where Andy Saywell surged onto it to score. 8-2
Havoc ensued! The Fev players argued bitterly with the referee and the Lions, a full- scale brawl nearly broke out. Meanwhile on the terraces, an elderly gentleman cracked his head open and received medical treatment after a terrace surge on the frankly decrepit terraces.
Once again, the attempt at the extras from the sideline was close but not on target. After all that, everyone needed a breather!
Rovers drew level soon after half time when Salford reject prop Stuart Dickens barged his way over and converted it himself. 8-8
Swinton went back ahead as Marsh charged through a gap in the Rovers defence before finding Woods to score. Hough added an excellent touchline two pointer. 14-8
The Lions large, noisy following sensed it would be their day as Kris Smith dummied through, stumbled, got up again and dived over under the sticks, Hough gleefully added the kick. 20-8
Loose forward Marsh then smartly punted over a drop goal so Featherstone had to score three times to win. 21-8
Then a startling team effort, Marsh and Wood running across at pace teased the Featherstone line before unleashing Woods, who popped the ball superbly up and over the defender’s reach for Saywell to speed onto to score. Hough didn’t miss either. 27-8
The slightly delayed kick off meant Swinton still had to nearly 10 minutes to hold on and still there was tension as Dickens snatched another try and converted it. Scrum half Andy Speak flicked a ‘V’ sign to the Lions supporters as they sang: “Can we play you every week?” in the aftermath.
Fev clung to their unlikely hopes and came forward forcefully but Wayne McHugh knocked on with the line close and their hopes fell to earth along with the ball. 27-14
Exultant scenes followed, and as the Lions fans chanted near the end: “Celtic, you are next, Celtic, Celtic, you are next!”
Swinton: Wayne English, Andy Saywell, Darren Woods, Paul Alcock, Marlon Billy, Martin Moana, Liam McGovern, Bruce Johnson, Phil Wood, Dave Newton, Kris Smith, Ian Sinfield, Lee Marsh
SUBS: Chris Hough, Chris Morley, Steve McCurrie, Ian Parry
Featherstone: Nathan Larvin, Danny Kirmond, Wayne McHugh, Dale Cardoza, Matty Wray, Richard Blakeway, Andy Speak, Ian Tonks, Gavin Swinson, Stuart Dickens, Steve Dooler, James Houston, Carl Hughes
SUBS: Paul Hughes, Jamie L’Anson, Craig Moss, Chris Birchall
Referee: Peter Taberner (Wigan)
MOTM: Swinton - Chris Hough, Featherstone - Dale Cardoza
Attendance: 1,205