Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Competition
Win £500 home security system
Click here for details
A shower in the a.m.Sport
| 
Submit Comments
NEW signing Gary Sykes drives the Lions forward in Sunday’s pre-season friendly. Pic by Swinton Supporters’ Trust
advertisement
Swinton Lions 24 St Helens 20
Jeff Tyldesley31/ 1/2008
A LAST-GASP try enabled Swinton to pinch the spoils in Sunday’s pre-season friendly with a St Helens reserve side.
Andy Saywell completed his hat-trick at the death to frustrate the young Saints, who had been the better side for long portions of this error-strewn warm up match.
Lions coach Paul Kidd, who made numerous changes from the team that performed well in a friendly defeat at Whitehaven the previous weekend, said: "I’m a little disappointed with the overall performance but we had to dig deep to gain victory and I was pleased with the effort in the end.
"But all credit to Saints. They stuck to their task straight from the kick-off and made it very hard for us. There was some heroic defence by them. It was a tough test for us and we came through it."
A unique sporting partnership was recently set up between the two clubs. But Super League giants St Helens chose not to select any of their star names on Sunday.
They played the same youthful side which was thrashed 50-0 by Swinton’s League Two rivals Barrow the previous weekend.
Many expected the Lions to pull off a similar demolition job. And that seemed to be on the cards when Swinton scored a try with their first set of six as Liam McGovern floated a kick to the right hand corner for Saywell to cruise over.
But Saints shook off that early setback to open up a 16-4 lead after 47 minutes of play.
Swinton needed to up their game and they did. Saywell pounced on McGovern’s low kick and a blockbusting run through several would-be tacklers from returning skipper Martin Moana brought the two sides level.
The arrival of substitute Richie Hawkyard gave Swinton more zip in attack. And, after Saints had gone 20-16 ahead, his grubber kick gave Darren Bamford an open invitation to touch down.
Hawkyard then unleashed Wayne English on a snaking run. He was eventually brought down but a quick play-the-ball from Craig Ashall paved the way for Gary Sykes to send over Saywell for an eye-catching match winner.
Several Swinton players enhanced their claims for a starting spot in the Lions’ Northern Rail Cup opener at Oldham this weekend but no one impressed more than Sykes and Saywell.
Team: Bamford; Saywell, Hull, Hamilton, Billy; Ashall, McGovern; Ball, Sykes, Jones, Morley, Rigby, Gibson. Subs used: Hawkyard, Salisbury, Tyrer, Johnson, Bryers, English, Brand, Smith, Moana. Tries: Saywell (3), Moana, Bamford. Goals: Brand (2). Attendance: 263.
Click on the video window to see full match highlights, courtesy of Channel M's Code XIII show ...
Got an opinion you want to share?Should less emphasis be placed on the results of tests and more emphasis on general education for children?
| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Egg Card | 3.0% |
| Barclaycard Platinum | 2.9% |
| Barclaycard OnePulse For London | 2.9% |
| Lloyds TSB Platinum MasterCard | 3.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| FirstPlus Exclusive Rate | 6.6% |
| Moneyback Bank | 7.2% |
| Barclaycard Personal Loan | 7.3% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 7.7% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 7.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 7.8% |
| Barclays | 7.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
6.16% |
|
BRADFORD & BINGLEY Internet Saver 2 |
6.00% |
|
ICESAVE Easy Access Account |
6.05% |
|
PRINCIPALITY BS e-SAVER |
5.75% |
|
SAINSBURYS BANK internet saver |
5.50% |