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Rochdale Hornets 50 Swinton Lions 26

Dave Lawrenson
14/ 8/2008

SWINTON’S play-off hopes are dangling by a thread following Sunday’s crushing derby defeat to bang-in-form Rochdale.

Head coach Paul Kidd was hoping that the previous week’s home win against Hunslet, which halted a disastrous seven-game losing streak, would spark a late push for League Two play-off glory.

But, despite working hard throughout, the ninth-placed Lions were no match for a seventh-placed Rochdale side that came into the game on the back of three wins in the space of eight games.

Swinton played well in patches and looked capable of securing local bragging rights when leading 8-4 after 16 minutes.

But they were guilty of trying to play too much champagne rugby instead of making sure that they got the basics right and the Fancy Dans are now five points off a play-off place with just two games remaining.

Kidd said: "I have never questioned the commitment of the players. I am just disappointed that we had the lead in the first half and looked as though we were going to give the Hornets a real game only to have an explosion.

"We thought we were St Helens and could score on any play that we wanted to and it just went from bad to worse."

Swinton named an unchanged side for the first time this season and they made a bright start to proceedings with Neil Rigby and Chris Hull scoring early tries.

But Richie Hawkyard missed with both conversion attempts and, with Swinton struggling in defence, Rochdale soon took control.

Outstanding stand off Martin Ainscough scored four tries and ex-Lion Mark Brocklehurst helped himself to a brace.

But Swinton always looked dangerous in attack and they scored second half consolation tries via the impressive Martin Moana, David Bates and the hard working Gary Hulse.

Team: English; Saywell, Hull, Gorton, Billy; Hawkyard, McGovern; Line, Sykes, Johnson, Rigby, Wainwright, Moana. Subs used: Hulse, Bamford, Bates, Hayes. Tries: Rigby, Hull, Moana, Bates, Hulse. Goals: McGovern (3). Attendance: 556.