Sedgley Park-based Swinton Lions virtually assured themselves of a place in the playoffs with a second hard-fought victory over the Roughyeds to claim a pre-season double over their National One neighbours.

The home side took an early lead inside six minutes with two Marty Turner penalties.

It was then stretched with a try from Gareth Barber and a third Turner penalty.

After a spot of fisticuffs the Lions' first try came seven minutes from the break, when Wayne English wrong footed the Roughyeds' defence to race in and Lee Marsh added the goal points.

The Lions drew level three minutes later when Marlon Billy pounced on a loose ball to touchdown, but Marsh was off target with the kick.

In the final minute of the half the home side had a try disallowed and to rub salt in the wounds Lions' Marsh dropped a goal from 30 metres to give the Lions a one point lead at the break.

They then started the second half as they had ended the first, on the attack.

After just 42 seconds Phil Joseph fed English for his second try of the afternoon and Ian Watson slotted over the conversion.

Two minutes later Danny Heaton picked up a loose ball to race in unopposed, with Watson again adding the goal points to put the Lions in a commanding position.

But the Roughyeds came storming back with tries from Carlos Mataora and Mark Roberts, with Turner's succesful conversions taking the homeside to within a point.

Lions' Lee Patterson then claimed an unconverted try, followed shortly afterwards by an Ian Sinfield four-pointer, and with Watson adding the goal points the Lions had a ten point cushion.

However, the Roughyeds wouldn't lie down and Wilkinson and Dodd added further tries.

Indeed, it was not until the final minute that the Lions made the game safe with a Joseph touchdown.

Lions: English, Irwin, Patterson, Thorpe, Billy, Marsh, Watson, Southern, Joseph, Rogers, Heaton, Sinfield, Hodson. Subs: Ayres, Russell, Crabtree, Whittaker.