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Gatecrashers

Jeff Tyldesley
26/ 7/2007

Gateshead 9 Swinton Lions 34 - SWINTON kept their flickering National League Two play-off hopes alive with a comprehensive win over Gateshead Thunder.

They completed the league double over second from bottom Gateshead and moved to within four points of the play-offs on Sunday despite putting in a poor first half performance, which saw them trail the north east side 8-6 at the break.

Swinton improved markedly after the break, scoring five tries without reply to the delight of coach Paul Kidd.

He said: "Gateshead are no mugs and we had to work hard for a deserved result built on a solid defensive performance."

Gateshead, who had 10 Aussies in their side, took an unexpected lead when Jason Payne caught Tim Martin's drilled chip and charged over.

Craig Ashall then had a try disallowed for Swinton. Play was pulled back as a result of Martin Moana getting involved in fisticuffs with a Gateshead player in the background.

Thunder pulled further away when the outstanding Phil Wood was sin-binned for holding down and Michael Knowles slotted over his second two-pointer of the game.

Swinton finally got on the scoreboard when Lee Marsh sent in Chris Hull on 34 minutes.

And they looked like a different team after the interval.

The Lions took the lead for the first time when David Bates smashed through both of his opposing props en route to the try line.

Wood then had an inspired few minutes, firstly selling a gigantic dummy to go over between the posts and then making a lengthy break which Hull supported to give Swinton a comfortable 24-8 advantage.

Marsh's only missed kick of the afternoon came after his own try out wide. The score owed much to a splendid charge from Moana.

The Lions capped their encouraging display off with another class try on 75 minutes. Old stager Marlon Billy evaded the cover and then provided a one-handed looping pass for Alcock to score.

Team: Hull; English, Gorton, Alcock, Billy; Ashall, McGovern; Bates, Wood, Newton, Smith, Moana, Marsh. Subs used: Duffy, Farrimond, McCurrie, Morley. Tries: Hull (2), Bates, Wood, Marsh, Alcock. Goals: Marsh (5). Attendance: 219.