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Ram-raided once again!

Jeff Tyldesley
7/ 6/2007

Barrow Raiders 52 Swinton Lions 24: SWINTON Lions were handed out their third thrashing of the season from a highly impressive Barrow Raiders side at Craven Park.

The result leaves the Lions, last season's Grand Final runners-up, lying sixth out of 12 in the National League Two table with a large gap opening up between themselves and the leaders.

Some disgruntled Lions fans called for head coach Paul Kidd to quit at the final whistle as once again the players under-performed and conceded far too many points.

Another of the Lions' downfalls this season has been their tendency to make poor starts to games.

That continued at second-placed Barrow on Sunday as Swinton fell 18 points behind with just 10 minutes on the clock.

There were a few bright sparks for Swinton's fed up fans. Bruce Johnson was exceptional playing out of position in the second row, Andy Saywell scored two tries on his long-awaited first team return from injury and the Lions never gave up the ghost despite defeat always looking inevitable.

But Swinton's fans expect much more from the team having come so close to promotion last term.

Liam Harrison sent Jamie Marshall over for Barrow's first try and those roles were reversed soon after with Wayne English and Saywell being punished for leaving Liam Finch's kick to each other.

Khamal Ganley then finished off a length of the field move to put Barrow 18-0 ahead.

Johnson stopped the rot by crashing over for Swinton but Barrow had an instant reply with Mike Whitehead taking advantage of some hesitancy in the visitors' defence.

Swinton skipper Chris Morley showed good strength to score in the corner but a James Nixon try ensured that Barrow held a 20-point lead at the break.

Martin Moana and Dean Gorton created the space for Saywell to squeeze over out wide at the start of the second half.

Two James Finch touch downs then put Barrow out of sight.

Swinton scored two consolation tries with Craig Ashall bursting onto Chris Hough's flat pass and Saywell bagging an interception try at the death.

But Barrow kept the scoreboard ticking along too with Marshall and Liam Finch both touching down and Darren Holt taking his goal tally to eight.

Team: English; Saywell, Gorton, Ashton, Billy; Moana, Hough; Bates, Wood, Marshall, Morley, Johnson, Smith. Subs used: Ashall, Alcock, Line, Aboushakra. Tries: Johnson, Morley, Saywell (2), Ashall. Goals: Hough (2). Attendance: 1,188.