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SWINTON Lions again failed to put on a full 80-minute performance, this time against London Skolars. Picture by the Swinton Supporters’ Trust
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Swinton Lions 34 London Skolars 24
Jeff Tyldesley17/ 4/2008
SWINTON Lions almost let London Skolars in for an improbable catch up victory, but hung on for the win, writes Jeff Tyldesley.
The match was symptomatic of the Lions’ National League Two season so far as they produced a crushing first period display to lead 22-0, only to allow London to score four great tries of their own after the break.
Chris Hull played at stand-off for the first time in his professional career and made a very good fist of it and Gary Sykes made his Lions debut in the hooking position allowing Phil Wood to be the ‘impact’ player off the bench.
The forwards laid the foundation as the Lions made all the running early on, it took Bruce Johnson only two minutes to power through a tackle and fend off Jermaine Coleman to race in from 40 yards. Sykes converted from beneath the posts.
Martin Moana then shipped the ball wide, Saywell rounded the winger and found Darren Gibson for the second rower to race over untouched.
Moana and Hulse then combined to spin a ball wide but Marlon Billy knocked on under pressure from Namila Davui.
Swinton then scored a fine expansive team try, Billy intercepted Matt Thomas’ pass near his line, batted off Aggrey before Coleman dragged him down. The Lions moved quickly and Bamford sent in Saywell at the corner.
Just before the break, another Moana offload garnered yet another try - Gibson supported well and he sprang Wayne English to go over.
London’s best chance of the half was also the last one, Davui demonstrating a killer turn of pace to lose Billy, he then chipped English but the tiny full back slid and claimed it tremendously.
After the break, English was over again arcing near to the posts after Moana broke the Skolars line once more.
Soon after London were denied, Corey Simms was offside when touching down off a smart grubber but when a chargedown regained them possession, Ashley Tozer sped down the left and Aggrey did the rest.
Next Paul Thorman hammered a huge bomb into the heavens, Coleman used his height advantage superbly to snatch it away from English and with Thorman converting both.
It was further ignited when Thorman’s clever change of direction allowed Tozer to walk in at the corner.
Fortunately for the Lions, Wayne English weaved and bobbed across the Skolar’s line and via Neil Rigby, Dean Gorton crossed to seal it.
London stole their bonus point in the 78th minute, Jamie Nowland dropping a shoulder and losing Moana to dance over with Thorman completing a perfect day with the boot.
They even had to defend it too, Farid Goutta popping up to boot dead Hulse’s dangerous chip to the corner with Billy waiting to pounce.
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?
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