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BRUCE Johnson, who was Swinton’s star performer, embarks on one of many menacing drives forward. (Pic by Swinton Supporters’ Trust)
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Swinton Lions 8 Oldham Roughyeds 20
Jeff Tyldesley24/ 4/2008
SWINTON suffered more heartache at the hands of Oldham as they crashed out of the Challenge Cup following a dour Lancashire derby.
The game certainly was not lacking in passion and commitment but any hopes of flowing rugby were negated by the poor conditions at Park Lane.
With prop Bruce Johnson leading the way with numerous immense drives, the plucky Lions did a tremendous job in matching National League Two title favourites Oldham for long periods.
But occasional defensive lapses and the fact that they provided Mick Nanyn with plenty of opportunities to kick at goal cost them in the end.
It is fair to say that Swinton are sick of the sight of the Roughyeds. They ended their Northern Rail Cup hopes this year too!
Swinton, who had to make do without half back aces Richard Hawkyard and Liam McGovern, had the first major chance of the game. Wayne English jinked as ever across the defensive line and a nice outside ball allowed Dean Gorton to race through but remarkable cover from Paul O’Connor brought him down.
Typically for the Lions, the Roughyeds then took the ball the length of the pitch and bagged the opening points via a Nanyn penalty.
Oldham extended their lead after deciding to try the rarely seen art of scrimmaging. The ball shot out of the scrum and Neil Roden wriggled out of two tackles to stretch over between the posts.
Nanyn converted and he was also on target with the boot after the supporting Danny Halliwell had finished off a powerful Rob Roberts run.
The two-try blast left Swinton up against it but they were given renewed hope when English’s kick seemed to render the ball as slippery as a greased pig. A couple of Roughyeds failed to grasp it and Darren Bamford capitalised in the corner.
This tight encounter could have gone an entirely different way if Swinton’s Barry Hamilton had held on to his interception from Tommy Goulden.
But, as it was, Oldham led 14-4 at the interval and they cemented victory in the second half with O’Conner finishing off James Coyle’s floating pass and Nanyn adding two goals.
For Swinton, Bamford had to be stretchered off after he went for the whitewash in the 60th minute.
It was a case of one in, one out in the Lions’ treatment room as this enabled Craig Ashall to complete his return from an ankle injury with a cameo substitutes’ appearance. And the Lions had the final say when Ashall’s attacking directness and quick hands allowed Gary Sykes to send Hamilton screeching in at the corner.
Team: English; Hamilton, Bamford, Gorton, Billy; Hull, Hulse; Line, Wood, Ball, Johnson, Rigby, Sykes. Subs used: Ashall, Tyrer, Moana, Hayes. Tries: Bamford, Hamilton. Attendance: 591.
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