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Life left in the old Lions

Jeff Tyldesley
21/ 6/2007

Swinton Lions 44 Keighley Cougars 18 - SWINTON Lions showed there's still life left in the season by coming from behind to thrash Keighley Cougars, writes Jeff Tyldesley.

Swinton face a tough task if they want to make the play-off places following their six point deduction last week for breaking financial rules.

But they showed they still have a chance by moving just five points behind seventh placed York with a 44-18 win.

It didn't all go the Lions' way though as the Cougars took a third minute lead when Matt Foster charged through Dean Gorton's weak tackle and his inside ball sent in Richard Knight for a self converted try.

Knight then added a further two kicks to stretch the visitors' lead to 10-0 and it looked like the nightmare week would continue.

However, Swinton scored with their first real attack with over a quarter-of-an-hour gone - David Bates provided the platform and Liam McGovern scored.

Martin Moana had a great day unleashing the ball when tackled as he sent away McGovern whose brilliant round the corner ball saw Dean Gorton gallop over.

Soon after Swinton's wingman Marlon Billy had a disaster - firstly he knocked on in the tackle from which Knight pounced.

Then in the final minute of the half, winger Sam Gardner kicked the ball at Billy, he knocked it straight back to him and Gardner picked up to dive over leaving the Lions eight points adrift at the break.

Coach Paul Kidd must have had a few choice words for his players at half time, and it seemed to do the trick.

Just three minutes into the second period Phil Wood's mazy run opened a gap for Gareth Hayes to send Rob Line under the posts.

The arrival of Chris Hough on the pitch appeared to be the catalyst for a sublime last 20 minutes, his direction enabled Swinton to turn pressure into points.

Moana once again took the ball up and offloaded, Gorton steamed onto it and Saywell was on his shoulder to finish off.

McGovern added the extras. Three minutes later and McGovern's grubber kick skimmed the post and Hough jubilantly fell on it to leave an easy conversion.

Dave Ashton was next to benefit from Moana's distribution as Chris Morley charged onto his pass.

Chris Hull stumbled over for his first professional try and McGovern booted a fantastic conversion.

Finally returning Lee Marsh rounded things off with an individual effort, when straight from the scrum he fended off Greg Nicholson and raced 40 yards to score.