SALFORD 18 SWINTON LIONS 20
IAN RIGG, The Brick Community Stadium, Wigan, Saturday
SWINTON ended a 41-year wait for victory over their local rivals to win the Centenary Cup.
Since a 9-5 Second Division win at The Willows in April 1985, the Lions have suffered 15 defeats plus a draw against Salford.
But they scraped home in Wigan – hosting with Salford’s CorpAcq Stadium unavailable – as a Jack Stevens penalty-goal proved the winning margin in front of a reasonable crowd.
The Lions made a bright start and when Deane Meadows was victim to a dump tackle on eight minutes, this caused a fight between the two teams and led to two Salford players being sent to the sin bin in Charlie Glover and former Lion Danny Lynch.
They had a couple of good chances trying to make the most of the extra gap in the defence, but Salford’s scramble did well to keep Ellis Anderson out twice.
Oliver Garmston was causing the Swinton defence lots of problems in response, while Lewis Pilling had a great chance but lost the ball five metres from the line.
Only once Salford were back to 13 players did the Lions take the lead, when a Stevens kick sent Anderson in on the left and Stevens added the conversion.
Salford hit back five minutes later when Garmston found a way through to score on the left and Kieran Dixon added the conversion.
Both sides then had good chances leading up to the break but it was Pilling who put his side ahead with five minutes to go when he went over on the left. He seemed to lose control of the ball touching down, but it was awarded as a penalty try and Dixon converted.
But Swinton were level straight from a second-half restart which two Salford players allowed to bounce into touch. Lynch crossed in the left corner and Stevens converted off the touchline.
Salford captain Brad Dwyer was held up before Harry Higham broke down the right for the Lions and fed the ball to Tom Ratchford, who drew the fullback to put Higham over and again Stevens converted.
Both sides then had good pressure on each other’s lines but defence was good, meaning there was no further score until Stevens put his side eight points ahead on 58 minutes when he converted a penalty for a high tackle on Sam Oakes.
Salford were coming strong and pressure on the line saw Declan Murphy, Louix Gorman and Joe Baldwin all held up by the super Lions defence.
Garmston finally found a gap in it with 15 minutes left, and Dixon again converted for a two-point game.
Trent Kelly-Duffy and Louie Roberts were both held up for the Lions before Dwyer went close again.
The game was very tight and Salford had the last chance when Joe Hartley broke down the right with seconds left, but his pass to Gorman sailed forward and Swinton counted down the final seconds to a famous victory.
GAMESTAR: Swinton halfback Jack Stevens controlled the middle of the field attacks.
GAMEBREAKER: Stevens’ penalty-goal on 68 minutes proved the difference despite a further Salford try.
MATCHFACTS
SALFORD
41 Declan Murphy
39 Callum Green
29 Louix Gorman
20 Joe Hartley
1 Kieran Dixon
7 Toby Hughes
28 Lewis Pilling
36 Danny Lynch
9 Brad Dwyer
37 Jack Bibby
33 Cole Oakley
12 Oliver Garmston
13 Charlie Glover
Subs (all used)
26 Reece Stanton
30 Alfie Tate
32 Joe Baldwin
43 Jack Houghton
Tries: Garmston (24, 65), Pilling (35 pen)
Goals: Dixon 3/3
Sin bin: Glover (8) – dangerous throw, Lynch (8) – running in
LIONS
1 Louie Roberts
3 Ellis Anderson
4 Aaron Lynch
20 Adam Jones
5 Harry Higham
35 Luca Walsh
7 Jack Stevens
18 Bobby Shingler
9 Josh Eaves
10 Ben Killan
11 Gav Rodden
23 Deane Meadows
17 Trent Kelly-Duffy
Subs (all used)
21 Tom Ratchford
28 Dylan Kelly-Duffy
38 Michael Porter
39 Sam Oakes
Tries: Anderson (19), Lynch (41), Higham (47)
Goals: Stevens 4/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 12-6; 12-12, 12-18, 12-20, 18-20
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Salford: Oliver Garmston; Lions: Jack Stevens
Penalty count: 10-6
Half-time: 12-6
Referee: Adam Williams