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Oldham Roughyeds 30 Swinton Lions 20

Jeff Tyldesley
22/ 5/2008

SWINTON Lions put in a gallant display against high-flying Oldham only to be undone by a late Roughyeds rally.

Sunday’s National League Two encounter bore a spooky resemblance to the last game between the two sides in Oldham where a seesaw encounter was decided by a late try from Oldham’s James Coyle.

The seventh-placed Lions have now lost all four meetings with Oldham this season.

Swinton were still heavily depleted by injury problems on Sunday but they welcomed back Darren Bamford and Adam Bibey.

And the Lions could console themselves with the fact that they picked up a losing bonus point. But it could have been so much more with Swinton taking the lead on three separate occasions as they roused themselves well following the previous week’s disappointing defeat to York.

A hat-trick from man of the match Marlon Billy paved the way for the Lions to lead 20-18 with just four minutes remaining. But all hopes of Swinton ending Oldham’s 12-game winning streak at home were ended by late tries from Danny Halliwell and Coyle.

Ex-Lion Mick Nanyn made a nightmare start to the game, kicking out on the full from the kick-off, knocking on a try saving pass from Paul O’Connor and having a try disallowed for a forward pass from another ex-Swinton favourite – Phil Joseph.

Incredibly, Nanyn then had another try correctly ruled out as he knocked on when squeezing over the whitewash with five Swinton players on him.

Swinton were defending faultlessly but their lack of discipline again reared its ugly head as Richard Hawkyard was sin-binned for holding down.

Despite going a man down, Swinton took the lead on 18 minutes when Billy finished off a great passing move and Neil Rigby’s twisting run in the corner.

But Tommy Goulden touched down for Oldham before setting up a Lucas Onyango try.

Much to Swinton fans’ amusement, Nanyn failed to convert both tries. And the Lions then scored the try of the game with Rob Line and Martin Moana sending Hawkyard over.

But Oldham led 14-12 at half-time thanks to a Halliwell try with Nanyn finally adding a conversion.

Nanyn’s mood was improved further when he scored off Neil Roden’s 57th minute pass.

Before that, Ben Williams and Chris Baines had both come agonisingly close to scoring for Swinton and Billy had bagged his second try of the game, touching down one handed as he slipped while collecting a high bomb.

A Hawkyard penalty and Billy’s hat-trick score in the corner put Swinton 20-18 ahead.

But Oldham hit back at the death to break Swinton’s hearts. Halliwell finished off a Roden chip to the corner and Coyle shimmied over in the dying seconds – just like he did in the cup game earlier in the season.

Team: Frodsham; Hamilton, Bamford, Williamson, Billy; Hawkyard, Hulse; Johnson, Sykes, Hayes, Gibson, Rigby, Moana. Subs used: Smith, Tyrer, Jones, Bibey. Tries: Billy (3), Hawkyard. Goals: Frodsham, Hawkyard. Attendance: 1,101.