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Lions tame Eagles

Jeff Tyldesley
8/ 7/2004

ON A day of sporting upsets, Swinton Lions toppled high-flying Sheffield Eagles at the Don Valley Stadium on Sunday.

Coach Paul Kidd was delighted with his side's performance which keeps them in contention for the play-offs, especially after several players had been struck down by a virus earlier in the week.

He said: "I hope I can keep the squad together for next week's game as they all thoroughly deserve to keep their shirts."

Sheffield began strongly and Jordan James should have opened the scoring but he failed to catch the ball after an Aled James break.

Gavin Brown did put the first points on the board for the home side with a penalty after quarter of an hour but Swinton's Paul Ashton equalised with one of his own.

Kicking proved crucial in the match and Mick Coates's superb 40-20 effort handed the Lions possession before Chris Maye stretched over to score.

Another 40-20 kick from the outstanding Coates laid the foundations for Kris Smith to score after a miraculous off-load from Ashton. And the scrum-half added two points right on half time to give the Lions a 14-2 lead. However, Mark Aston's side flew out of the blocks after the break and Nick Turnbull slipped over to score.

Brown's bomb then allowed James to atone for his earlier error and he pounced to score.

Sheffield were on top but a piece of brilliance from English mesmerised the home team. The full-back found a gap and his off-load enabled Ian Hodson to send Rob Russell over.

The hosts were stunned and when Coates's precise kick caused mayhem, Chris Irwin touched down and Swinton were assured victory. Peter Cannon, who together with Coates was involved in everything, then went over from close range.

There was a late consolation for Sheffield's full-back Greg Hurst but, like in Lisbon later in the evening, it was the team in blue's day.