SWINTON LIONS 8 ROCHDALE HORNETS 12
IAN RIGG, Heywood Road, Sunday

ETHAN WOOD was the Rochdale hero as Swinton were stung by Hornets with just eight minutes to go.

The game was played in atrocious conditions with constant rain making handling difficult.

Early pressure from the Lions forced goal-line drop-outs in successive sets, but they were unable to capitalise, and even a penalty 30 metres out came to nothing as the ball went to ground.

A good Swinton attack was ended on 14 minutes when Rochdale winger TJ Boyd got to a kick first.

Jack Stevens put the home team ahead after 23 minutes when George Roby was obstructed and he slotted a penalty-goal between the sticks.

It looked like the first try was coming when Gav Rodden broke down the left for the hosts, but the final pass to the supporting Harry Higham went into touch.

Rochdale tried to hit back but Dan Nixon could not control a final pass with the line open.

More chances quickly followed and Swinton’s Connor Parkinson made a break down the right, but Max Flanagan forced him into touch, then Rochdale’s Jordan Andrade knocked on near the line.

Two more loose carries put Rochdale in a good position before there was a hold-up as Matty Unsworth had to leave the field on a stretcher with a leg injury after a collision with Rodden in a tackle in the Swinton ten-metre area.

Rochdale made the better start to the second half, gaining an early penalty and good ground after an off-the-ball tackle on halfway.

The scores were level on 45 minutes when the impressive Flanagan added a penalty-goal after an offside ruling.

Flanagan put Rochdale ahead three minutes later when he converted another penalty-goal following interference at the play-the-ball.

Swinton were trying everything to get over the line and finally made the breakthrough on 57 minutes, when Jamie Reddecliff latched onto a short kick from Stevens to score by the posts and leave Stevens with a straightforward conversion for 8-4.

While it was end to end, ball handling was causing problems for both teams, but Rochdale finally forced the winning points as Wood found a gap on the left and Flanagan converted.

Again Swinton tried everything to get into a good position to score but a moment of indiscipline led to a penalty – and Flanagan was on target from the tee.

GAMESTAR: Rochdale fullback Max Flanagan was solid at the back and faultless with the boot.

GAMEBREAKER: Ethan Wood try for Hornets with eight minutes left.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS
1 Louie Roberts
2 Connor Parkinson
20 Adam Jones
4 Aaron Lynch
5 Harry Higham
7 Jack Stevens
21 Tom Ratchford
18 Bobby Shingler
14 Jonny Openshaw
15 Jamie Reddecliff
12 Aaron Willis
11 Gav Rodden
17 Trent Kelly-Duffy
Subs (all used)
22 Jordan Brown
16 Finley Beardsworth
9 George Roby
23 Deane Meadows

Tries: Reddecliff (57)
Goals: Stevens 2/2

HORNETS
1 Max Flanagan
22 TJ Boyd
3 Tom Ashton
4 Junior Sa’u
2 Dan Nixon
14 Morgan Punchard
6 Jamie Dallimore
8 Jayden Dayes
9 Ross Whitmore
17 Dylan Kelly-Duffy
11 Matty Unsworth
12 Ethan Wood
13 Jordan Syme
Subs (all used)
19 Luke Waterworth
10 Lewis Hatton
16 Jordan Andrade
24 Ben Metcalfe

Tries: Wood (72)
Goals: Flanagan 4/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 2-0; 2-2, 2-4, 8-4, 8-10, 8-12

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Lions: Jack Stevens; Hornets: Ethan Wood

Penalty count: 8-8
Half-time: 2-0
Referee: Ryan Cox
Attendance: 822