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Lions out muscled

Jeff Tyldesley
2/ 8/2007

Keighley Cougars 52
Swinton Lions 22

SWINTON are left relying on other teams slipping up in their quest for the National League Two play-offs after being thrashed by Keighley.

It was a deserved win for the home team on one of the Lions' bogey grounds. Keighley, who moved level on points with Swinton, played the slope and narrow pitch to perfection.

Coach Paul Kidd said: "We have been playing well over the last few weeks but it wasn't there for us today.

"Keighley out muscled us in every department and they wanted it more than my guys did."

Swinton are now ninth, six points off the play-offs places with one game in hand on most of their rivals.

They made a bright start to Sunday's game and took the lead when Martin Moana crashed over after good work from Phil Wood and Craig Ashall.

Keighley then hit back with tries by Alex Brown, Zac Hill and Oliver Pursglove.

The Cougars were testing the Lions every time they had the ball.

But excellent individual play from Lee Marsh, who burst out of three tackles before finding try scorer Chris Hull in support near the posts, kept Swinton in contention at 14-10.

Keighley scored twice more via Brown and Simon Bissell before a Marsh try, which owed much to Moana's juggling of the ball in the tackle, saw the Lions trail 24-16 at the break.

The Cougars' dominance continued after the break. They wrapped up an impressive win with tries by Tom Palmer, Brendon Rawlins, Wayne Sutcliffe, Mike Hastings and Hill.

Marlon Billy collected Ashall's long pass and hurdled two tackles to score a consolation try for Swinton.

Team: Hull; English, Gorton, Alcock, Billy; Ashall, McGovern; Bates, Wood, Newton, Smith, Moana, Marsh. Subs used: Duffy, Farrimond, McCurrie, Hayes. Tries: Moana, Hull, Marsh, Billy. Goals: Marsh (3).

Attendance: 471.