Swinton Lions 51, Whitehaven Wars 28

THE sun shone once again on Gigg Lane as Mike Gregory's Lions continued their remarkable turnaround in fortunes.

But Sunday's high-scoring match was a strange affair.

It was sometimes disjointed, the attacking play was brilliant but there was certainly a questionmark against both defences.

The Warriors drew first blood with a second minute Graeme Morton try after some good play by Leroy Joe and David Fatialofa.

It didn't take the Lions long to hit back when Paul Barrow and Damian Cleary caught Whitehaven napping to send Ian Watson through for the equalising score. The Lions then took the lead in superb style. After some nice passing in their own quarter Mark Welsby sent Howard Hill racing away, he handed on to Richard Henare who finished off a brilliant 80 m etre move.

Ian Watson converted to make it 10-4.

At times the match officials left the supporters baffled with some decisions that bordered on the comical.

One such occasion led to Whitehaven equalising after Simon Ashcroft appeared to be held back and knocked on in front of his own posts.

From the resulting scrum Lee Kiddie was awarded a try despite being rolled on his back and appearing to lose the ball.

Kevin Heatherington tacked on the goal points.

Whitehaven were soon in again when they kept the ball alive on the last tackle for Graeme Lewthwaite to score a try that Heatherington converted.

It was then the visitors turn to go to sleep when they lost the ball from the kick-off which resulted from the scrum, in Welsby racing through a massive gap for a try converted by Watson.

Watson gave the Lions the narrowest of advantages at the break with a drop goal to make the half-time score 17-16.

Whitehaven repeated their first half effort with a try just two minutes after the break. After Simon Ashcroft had gone close at one end the Warriors raced downfield for another Kiddie try again converted by Heatherington.

The Lions regained the lead when Watson's sixth tackle high kick to the posts was dropped by Wesley Wilson and Henare pounced on the loose ball for another Watson converted touchdown. The tries were coming thick and fast. Whitehaven fumbled the ball again and gave the Lions another six tackles but they didn't need them as Henare scooped up possession to send Steve Gartland racing to the posts leaving Watson with an easy conversion.

There were ironic cheers when Whitehaven were finally penalised for offside thirty metres out and in front of the posts.

Watson missed the relatively easy kick at goal and Haven hit back almost immediately to reduce the arrears to 29-28.

Kiddie dived over for his third try with Heatherington adding the goal points.

Swinton started to pile on the pressure and they scored four tries in the final thirteen minutes.

The fun started when Lewthwaite dropped Watson's kick with Ashcroft pressing but Wilson managed to palm the ball dead.

From the goalline drop out the Lions strolled forward and Paul Smith raced in for a try that Watson converted.

Henare and Shaun Casey set up an opportunity for Hill to go over the posts then Casey and Gartland created the opening for Henare's hat-trick touchdown in another length of the field move after Whitehaven lost the ball in the Lions' quarter.

As Henare was named man of the match Welsby skipped in for a try under the posts after a break by Ashcroft. Three more Watson conversion goals bringing the final score.

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