Swinton Lions 24 Hunslet Hawks 24 (at Hilton Park, Leigh)
ON the night Swinton officially confirmed their move to Salford City's ground, they went on to produce a performance not geared to winning them friends in new places writes Steve Bott
Leading by 20 points to six a minute into the second half, they let things slip against fellow strugglers Hunslet and allowed their opponents to battle back to snatch a 24-24 draw.
If Swinton's small, but hardy band of faithful followers thought they might be on the verge of a bright new dawn, they were to be sadly disappointed, despite their side's encouraging first half show.
The Lions took the lead as early as the third minute with a Mick Nanyn penalty from close range and went further ahead three minutes later with a Jason Johnson try after Wayne English's pass put him in close to the posts. Nanyn added the goal points.
Landed
A try from Hunslet's Danny Cook pulled it back to 8-4 in the 15th minute and Gareth Naylor landed the first of four successful kicks at goal with a 21st minute penalty to cut the gap to just two points.
Swinton increased their lead again though when Craig Dean produced the first of several inspirational moments on the night to go in under the posts in the 32nd minute.
That prseneted Nanyn with a simple third goal and Swinton led 14-6 at the break.
They kept up the momentum immediately from the re-start as Ade Mead scored the first of his two tries, capitalising on a break by new boy Mike Whitehead.
Nanyn added the goal and Swinton were firmly in command at 20-6 and looking good for a rare victory -- and that's when thinmgs started to go wrong.
There weren't many alarm bells ringing when Craig Ibbetson went over in the 49th minute for a try improved by Naylor.
Swinton pulled away again when Mead darted in for his second try on 53 minutes after gathering Dean's smart kick ahead to touch down in the corner.
That gave the Lions a seemingly comfortable 12-point cushion, albeit with 27 minutes remaining.
It all got decidedly uncomfortable however when Joniee Lockwood crashed over for the first of his two tries in the 53rd minute. Naylor tagged on the goal and it was game on again at 24-18.
Lockwood repeated the dose with six minutes to go and Swinton were forced to hang on for a not so glorious draw as they begin the countdown to their move to pastures new on August 4.
SWINTON LIONS: English, Mead, Nanyn, Thorpe, Hudson, Johnson, Dean, Hansen, Barraclough, Loughlin, Shea, Cushion, Russell. Substitutes: Butler, Roach, Wingfield, Whiteside. Referee: Mr J King.
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