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No belief!

Jeff Tyldesley
1/ 3/2007

Swinton Lions 14
Rochdale 40

SWINTON Lions were well beaten by a clinical and pacy Rochdale side.

They lost their unbeaten record in the Northern Rail Cup and were knocked off the top of the perch in the group four table.

Swinton coach Paul Kidd said: "I was very disappointed with the performance. I don't think we went out there and believed we could win.

"There's no disgrace in losing to a National League One side but it's how we lost which disappointed me. We didn't really give it our best shot but I'm sure we will hit back."

The Lions were missing the player of the previous Northern Rail Cup round in four-try hero Darren Woods. He was suffering with an ear infection and joined injured players like Andy Saywell, Richard Marshall, Rob Line, Steve McCurrie, Lee Marsh and Anthony Aldcroft on Swinton's unavailable list.

The Lions were flogged in the first 40 minutes on Sunday, caged in their own half by an excellent kicking game as the visitors played the cold conditions and the sticky Sedgley Park pitch superbly.

Swinton played much better after the break and were rewarded with three consolation tries.

Trailing 34-0, the Lions were making fundamental errors like failing to find touch with penalty kicks and it took an experienced head to show them how to scrape some positives from the game.

The previously ball starved Marlon Billy snaffled Phil Hasty's pass and raced 95 metres to leave the ball spinning between the posts.

Craig Ashall converted and winger Billy soon bagged his second try of the game, battering off Eric Andrews, Lee Patterson and Paul Anderson to score near to the corner flag off Phil Wood's pass.

Martin Moana fluffed the chance of another Lions score when he knocked on over the try line.

But Mark Brocklehurst made no mistake after being sent clear by the quick hands of Wood, Wayne English and Craig Farrimond.

Tommy Goulden (2), Dave McConnell, Patterson (2) and Hasty (2) touched down for Rochdale.

And the crowd included many Rochdale and Swinton fans who had walked from Spotland and Station Road respectively to raise money for Leukaemia Research - a condition that has killed ex-Lions second rower Ian Skeech and dedicated fan Vanessa Maddox in recent years.

Team: English; Williams, Brocklehurst, Ashton, Billy; Moana, Hough; Johnson, Wood, Hayes, Newton, Morley, Ashall. Subs used: Farrimond, Aboushakra, Sharples, Bryers. Tries: Billy (2), Brocklehurst. Goal: Ashall.

Attendance: 572.