Swinton Lions 31, Oldham Roughyeds 24

THE family fun day which the Lions staged at Gigg Lane on Sunday saw them earn a hard-fought victory over a tough Oldham side.

Oldham made problems for themselves by overstepping the mark on too many occasions, highlighted when prop forward Leo Casey was dismissed for back-chat.

After an early Steve Gartland penalty miss, Sean Casey made a fantastic fourth minute break to create a brilliant try for Wes Rogers. Gartland had no problem with the goal kick.

The Lions extended their lead to 10-0 when Marlon Billy raced in at the corner after Mark Welsby took advantage of a large overlap on the left wing.

Billy went close again chasing Gartland's neat kick behind the Oldham defence before Aide Meade just failed to score at the other end to haul Oldham back into the game.

The Roughyeds finally got on the scoreboard when Ian Watson was penalised for holding down John Hough. Danny Brown kicked the penalty goal.

The last 10 minutes before half-time almost spelled disaster for Swinton.

Only seven minutes after coming on as a substitute, Gavin Price-Jones had to leave the field with a very worrying eye injury. Then Tony Barrow was sin-binned for holding down.

This signalled an Oldham fightback when Brown crossed after a neat slipped pass from Frenchman Laurent Minut closely followed by a Jason Clegg try right on the half-time hooter. Brown missed both conversions but a Sean Casey drop goal sandwiched in between maintained an 11-10 advantage for the Lions at the break.

With Barrow itching to come out of the bin, old stager Paul Round scored a 42nd minute try which Brown converted to give Oldham the lead for the first time in the game.

Billy scorched in for his second for the Lions, closely followed by Rogers, also scoring a brace. Gartland added one goal.

Oldham's Nathan Varley was sin-binned for deliberate offside allowing Gartland another penalty goal. Brown replied in kind for the Roughyeds before debutant Matt Bateman got on the end of a good Watson break to touch down with Gartland again tagging on the goal points.

Oldham substitute Brian Quinlan crossed six minutes from time for a converted try as the match ended in uproar.

Leo Casey was sent off for speaking out of turn to the referee allowing Gartland to complete the scoring with another penalty.

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