Lazy Journal Entry Just For Paul Crookell #2!!
Does this go someway to repaying the lack of mentions of you, Paul?!
Anyway, Swinton went to Wales and in an incredible day out culminating in a fantastic piece of commentary shown on BBC1 where the guy probably does go nuts! Swinton are in the National League 2 final and might get promoted! I don't fancy us to win (and I have been right predicting every game so far!) but who knows?!
I would show a link to what Salford were doing this weekend but they weren't doing anything! Haha! Twats! Give me an E...!
I don't like the ticketing arrangements, Swinton have got fuck all (500 + 200 released late), half in the seats and half in the stands while Hull KR have apparently bought half the ground out!
So far, it's me, my sister, Dad and Mum, Ste, Arthur and Madeline and now Paul and Kezza (see that lad Paul is again in there!) and my Dad's mate Geoff from America all going! Woo!
Here's how the mighty Lions got there...
What an unbelievable match! Yet it is Swinton who go marching on…
Chris Hough struck a 101st minute ‘golden point’ drop goal to drag the Lions into the National League 2 Grand Final versus Sheffield Eagles. It was the type of moment players and spectators alike live for…
Swinton’s play off run so far would make for an excellent DVD with a narrow win over Barrow and the long awaited success at Featherstone but this game topped the lot!
It was Swinton, yelled on by at least half the crowd who made an excellent start to their long excursion to South Wales, roaring into a ten point lead in the same number of minutes.
Phil Wood darted across field and found Darren Woods to be a willing runner, the centre raced forty yards before being pulled down, Swinton swung the ball across the other side and the opposite centre Paul Alcock went in. 4-0
Next it was Woods’ turn to score in the corner, Hough adding an excellent conversion and with the Lions looked menacing in attack, Alcock almost grabbed a second but was forced into touch. 10-0
Celtic however finished third in the league with good reason and Aussie scrum half Jace Van Dijk began to pull the strings, first a chip kick out wide completely fooled Andy Saywell for Matt Hill to stroll in. 10-4
Next another grubber kick through by Van Dijk was dived on by Chris Beasley. Tony Duggan almost raced in under the sticks and it was the Lions clinging on at the break. 10-10
The Lions came out keen, too keen. Lee Marsh booted the kick off into touch and the Crusaders rampaged downfield with Michael Ryan diving over. 14-10
Marsh quickly made amends, diving on Liam McGovern’s sublime grubber, Hough inexplicably missed from under the posts - an error that would create the drama that would later unfold. 14-14
Duggan then showed why he has been nominated for NL2 Player of the Year, carving through the Lions defence, playing a one-two with Aled James, dummying to Ryan before racing away from Wayne English. 20-14
Back came Swinton, Marsh sending McGovern over and converting it himself. 20-20
Van Dijk and Duggan were again involved in the next score, creating enough space for Hill to speed in for his second. The Lions then conceded another penalty to make the situation even more difficult. 26-20
With merely seconds on the clock, Swinton earned a penalty and an extended period in Crusaders territory, during which Marsh charged over to send the fans into raptures and with Hough’s two, the game into extra time. 26-26
Extra time was as tense as they come, Saywell went over for Swinton only to be collared for offside and Ryan missed a drop goal for the Crusaders from twenty five metres out with seconds to go!
Next team to score wins was how it needed to be decided and Swinton wasted no time, Wood set off on a magnificent weaving run, he made it down to the Crusaders twenty metre line, setting it up perfectly for Hough to apply his winning kick. 27-26
Scenes of absolute jubilation followed as first the backroom staff then most of the fans joined the team on the pitch!
They head into the Grand Final at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones stadium underdogs once more, the question is whether the extra time played over the weekend taken has too much power out of them.
The South Yorkshire side finished second and are unbeaten in twelve games but the Lions have shown they have indomitable spirit and in front of Sky TV for the first time in their history, who would put it past them?
Swinton: Wayne English, Andy Saywell, Darren Woods, Paul Alcock, Marlon Billy, Martin Moana, Chris Hough, Bruce Johnson, Phil Wood, Dave Newton, Kris Smith, Ian Sinfield, Lee Marsh
SUBS: Liam McGovern, Chris Morley, Steve McCurrie, Ian Parry
Celtic: Tony Duggan, Grant Epton, Aled James, Damien Quinn, Matt Hill, Luke Young, Jace Van Dijk, Gareth Dean, Michael Ryan, Gareth Price, Ryan Barton, Chris Beasley, Neil Wyatt
SUBS: Paul Morgan, Grant Davies, Hywel Davies, Anthony Seibold
Referee: Julian King (St Helens)
Attendance: 687
MOTM: Swinton: Phil Wood Celtic: Jace Van Dijk
Anyway, Swinton went to Wales and in an incredible day out culminating in a fantastic piece of commentary shown on BBC1 where the guy probably does go nuts! Swinton are in the National League 2 final and might get promoted! I don't fancy us to win (and I have been right predicting every game so far!) but who knows?!
I would show a link to what Salford were doing this weekend but they weren't doing anything! Haha! Twats! Give me an E...!
I don't like the ticketing arrangements, Swinton have got fuck all (500 + 200 released late), half in the seats and half in the stands while Hull KR have apparently bought half the ground out!
So far, it's me, my sister, Dad and Mum, Ste, Arthur and Madeline and now Paul and Kezza (see that lad Paul is again in there!) and my Dad's mate Geoff from America all going! Woo!
Here's how the mighty Lions got there...
What an unbelievable match! Yet it is Swinton who go marching on…
Chris Hough struck a 101st minute ‘golden point’ drop goal to drag the Lions into the National League 2 Grand Final versus Sheffield Eagles. It was the type of moment players and spectators alike live for…
Swinton’s play off run so far would make for an excellent DVD with a narrow win over Barrow and the long awaited success at Featherstone but this game topped the lot!
It was Swinton, yelled on by at least half the crowd who made an excellent start to their long excursion to South Wales, roaring into a ten point lead in the same number of minutes.
Phil Wood darted across field and found Darren Woods to be a willing runner, the centre raced forty yards before being pulled down, Swinton swung the ball across the other side and the opposite centre Paul Alcock went in. 4-0
Next it was Woods’ turn to score in the corner, Hough adding an excellent conversion and with the Lions looked menacing in attack, Alcock almost grabbed a second but was forced into touch. 10-0
Celtic however finished third in the league with good reason and Aussie scrum half Jace Van Dijk began to pull the strings, first a chip kick out wide completely fooled Andy Saywell for Matt Hill to stroll in. 10-4
Next another grubber kick through by Van Dijk was dived on by Chris Beasley. Tony Duggan almost raced in under the sticks and it was the Lions clinging on at the break. 10-10
The Lions came out keen, too keen. Lee Marsh booted the kick off into touch and the Crusaders rampaged downfield with Michael Ryan diving over. 14-10
Marsh quickly made amends, diving on Liam McGovern’s sublime grubber, Hough inexplicably missed from under the posts - an error that would create the drama that would later unfold. 14-14
Duggan then showed why he has been nominated for NL2 Player of the Year, carving through the Lions defence, playing a one-two with Aled James, dummying to Ryan before racing away from Wayne English. 20-14
Back came Swinton, Marsh sending McGovern over and converting it himself. 20-20
Van Dijk and Duggan were again involved in the next score, creating enough space for Hill to speed in for his second. The Lions then conceded another penalty to make the situation even more difficult. 26-20
With merely seconds on the clock, Swinton earned a penalty and an extended period in Crusaders territory, during which Marsh charged over to send the fans into raptures and with Hough’s two, the game into extra time. 26-26
Extra time was as tense as they come, Saywell went over for Swinton only to be collared for offside and Ryan missed a drop goal for the Crusaders from twenty five metres out with seconds to go!
Next team to score wins was how it needed to be decided and Swinton wasted no time, Wood set off on a magnificent weaving run, he made it down to the Crusaders twenty metre line, setting it up perfectly for Hough to apply his winning kick. 27-26
Scenes of absolute jubilation followed as first the backroom staff then most of the fans joined the team on the pitch!
They head into the Grand Final at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones stadium underdogs once more, the question is whether the extra time played over the weekend taken has too much power out of them.
The South Yorkshire side finished second and are unbeaten in twelve games but the Lions have shown they have indomitable spirit and in front of Sky TV for the first time in their history, who would put it past them?
Swinton: Wayne English, Andy Saywell, Darren Woods, Paul Alcock, Marlon Billy, Martin Moana, Chris Hough, Bruce Johnson, Phil Wood, Dave Newton, Kris Smith, Ian Sinfield, Lee Marsh
SUBS: Liam McGovern, Chris Morley, Steve McCurrie, Ian Parry
Celtic: Tony Duggan, Grant Epton, Aled James, Damien Quinn, Matt Hill, Luke Young, Jace Van Dijk, Gareth Dean, Michael Ryan, Gareth Price, Ryan Barton, Chris Beasley, Neil Wyatt
SUBS: Paul Morgan, Grant Davies, Hywel Davies, Anthony Seibold
Referee: Julian King (St Helens)
Attendance: 687
MOTM: Swinton: Phil Wood Celtic: Jace Van Dijk