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Swinton Lions 20 Oldham Roughyeds 38

21/ 8/2008

SWINTON Lions’ slim play-off hopes died as they fell to an injury hit Oldham side.

Swinton were far from disgraced, playing with determination to the end, but they were beaten by the better side on the day.

The opening exchanges saw both sides trying to size each other up, but the first score came when Roughyeds forced Gary Hulse to paw a kick out of play with the defence closing in and after the drop out, Neil Roden got a kick in and placed it delightfully for Marcus St Hiliare to outpace Hulse to score.

The Lions smartly moved the ball around as much as possible and the gap was finally prised with Chris Hull scooting over, Liam McGovern missing the conversion.

The visitors absorbed the time they were left without a full side and then clinically scored when back to full strength via Hodson, who held off Hull, Hulse and Hayes to crash over.

The next try was a fantastic move, but the score was controversial. Two superb tackles from Lions’ Wayne English and Neil Rigby seemed to save the day as Roughyeds came forward in a wave. But Roden popped the ball up for Luke Menzies to go over and the try was given despite Dave Bates having his hand under the ball.

Some marvellous offloads from Hodson and Brown sent Onyango over in the corner for 26-4 to Oldham.

The Lions were not finished though and McGovern’s try came in the middle of a mini-renaissance, finishing off a great burst and well timed off load by Martin Moana.

With 10 left Oldham again found a higher gear with St Hilaire catching a bomb in the corner and Halliwell landing an excellent touchline goal.

Swinton added a couple of late scores that showed there is real talent in their ranks to exploit next season - Andy Saywell raced in at the corner and Hull met Craig Ashall’s pass with a wonderfully angled run and try. But it was all too late for this season.Swinton Lions’ slim play-off hopes died as they fell to an injury hit Oldham side.

The Sedgley Park side were far from disgraced, playing with determination to the end, but they were beaten by the better side on the day.

The opening exchanges saw both sides trying to size each other up, but the first score came when Roughyeds forced Gary Hulse to paw a kick out of play with the defence closing in and after the drop out, Neil Roden got a kick in and placed it delightfully for Marcus St Hilaire to outpace Hulse to score.

The Lions smartly moved the ball around as much as possible and the gap was finally prised with Chris Hull scooting over, Liam McGovern missing the conversion.

The next try was a fantastic move, but the score was controversial. Two superb tackles from Lions’ Wayne English and Neil Rigby seemed to save the day as Roughyeds came forward in a wave.

But Roden popped the ball up for Luke Menzies to go over and the try was given despite Dave Bates having his hand under the ball.

Some marvellous offloads from Hodson and Brown sent Onyango over in the corner for 26-4 to Oldham.

The Lions were not finished though and McGovern’s try came in the middle of a mini-renaissance, finishing off a great burst and well timed off load by Martin Moana.

Swinton added a couple of late scores that showed there is real talent in their ranks to exploit next season - Andy Saywell raced in at the corner and Hull met Craig Ashall’s pass with a wonderfully angled run and try.