SWINTON LIONS 60 NORTH WALES CRUSADERS 10
IAN RIGG, Heywood Road, Sunday

SWINTON gave an eleven-try performance in a convincing victory over a North Wales side that never gave up right to the end and was able to score the last try of the game.

The Lions started as they meant to go on, as Aaron Lynch put them ahead in the very first minute when he scored in the left corner and Jack Stevens added the first of eight successful conversions.

Lynch and then Jordan Brown were both held up in the following plays as Swinton laid siege to the Crusaders’ line.

The first North Wales chance came on 19 minutes when Lewis Holgate was held up, but it was the Lions who broke the line again when Reece Briers broke tackles to score by the posts and Stevens again tagged on the conversion.

The try of the match came on 23 minutes when Charlie McCurrie raced half the length of the field before putting Josh Eaves in by the posts for another converted try.

Trent Ruddy then got to the hosts’ line but was held up just before the half-hour.

An incident was placed on report shortly afterwards for a tackle on Louie Roberts and he left the field with a leg injury.

More pressure on the Crusaders’ defence saw Patrick Ah Van score in the left corner from a big overlap, but this time Stevens was unable to convert.

Then, with seconds left in the half, Lynch crossed for his second try on the left. Again the conversion was missed but the Lions already had a 26-point lead.

And they made a great start to the second half when Harry Higham scored in the right corner after a Tom Ratchford kick and Stevens converted from the touchline.

Four minutes later Ah Van kicked nicely for Stevens to score and convert his own try.

The Crusaders then had a couple of chances before they made one count when Connor Terrill took a couple of defenders over the line to score and Ben Fisher converted.

Adam Jones stretched the Lions’ lead on 59 minutes when Trent Kelly-Duffy made the initial break and Stevens again converted.

North Wales fullback Matty Welham was then sent to the sin bin on the hour for a late hit on Eaves and within a minute Gav Rodden had stretched the lead further, scoring in the right corner but with no conversion.

Eaves added his second try ten minutes from the end after being sent in by Briers, who had made the initial break, and Stevens again converted.

There was more unsuccessful Crusaders pressure before Jones grabbed his second try after more good attacking work by McCurrie and Stevens converted again.

With about 30 seconds to go to the final hooter, Rodden was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle.

And the Crusaders made the most of it when Bailey Dawson went over from a quick play-the-ball, although Fisher could not convert after the final hooter.

GAMESTAR: Charlie McCurrie was a constant threat in the Swinton attack.

GAMEBREAKER: The Lions’ four tries either side of the break took North Wales totally out of the game.

MATCHFACTS

LIONS
1 Louie Roberts
3 Ellis Anderson
4 Aaron Lynch
20 Adam Jones
5 Harry Higham
6 Reece Briers
7 Jack Stevens
22 Jordan Brown
9 Josh Eaves
10 Ben Killan
26 Charlie McCurrie
34 Patrick Ah Van
11 Gav Rodden
Subs (all used)
17 Trent Kelly-Duffy
21 Tom Ratchford
28 Dylan Kelly-Duffy
38 Mike Porter

Tries: Lynch (1, 39), Briers (21), Eaves (23, 70), Ah Van (36), Higham (42), Stevens (44), Rodden (61), Jones (59, 77)
Goals: Stevens 8/11
Sin bin: Rodden (79) – late tackle

CRUSADERS
5 Matty Welham
6 Lewis Holgate
3 Lewis Fairhurst
4 Marcus Geener
1 Isaac Wheatley
14 Joe Hickey
7 Ben Fisher
8 Connor Terrill
9 Trent Ruddy
10 James Shields
11 Bailey Dawson
2 Sam Littler
12 Ralph Wood
Subs (all used)
15 Jordan Cella
18 Matt Bailey
20 Will Lever
25 Harry Coleman

Tries: Terrill (52), Dawson (80)
Goals: Fisher 1/2
Sin bin: Welham (60) – late tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 22-0, 26-0; 32-0, 38-0, 38-6, 44-6, 48-6, 54-6, 60-6, 60-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Lions: Charlie McCurrie; Crusaders: Ben Fisher

Penalty count: 8-3
Half-time: 26-0
Referee: Carl Hughes
Attendance: 693