Swinton Lions were able to secure a huge victory this past weekend, beating Whitehaven who suffered their first home defeat of the campaign.
The Lions were able to walk away with the 14-18 win, but it wasn’t without late drama – with the win being decided in the final minute.
Expecting a tough fixture, it was exactly that for the Lions, with Haven going ahead through a Jack Newbegin try in the sixteenth minute.
Newbegin was able to exploit a gap on the left to touch down, for a 4-0 lead, however, they were unable to extend their advantage with Jay Weatherill missing his conversion.
However, this didn’t impact the away side who were also chasing a win, as they continued to mount good pressure on the home team.
But it wasn’t until the 26th minute till the Lions retaliated with Jack Stevens twisting through the defence to force his way down to score.
And the Lions had learnt from Haven’s mistake – as Reece Briers was able to convert to given Swinton the lead.
From there, it seemed as though Swinton Lions were in full control – as they went onto score just three minutes later.
A penalty tap from Swinton in the 29th minute, saw the ball move across the field with Louis Roberts breaking into space with fellow teammate Ethan Fitzgerald in support, who touched it down to extend the winning margin.
However, the Lions were unable to extend the difference of points to 10, as Ryan Briers missed his second conversion.
But that wasn’t a worry as the away side continued to grow their lead in the very last play of the half, after Kenny Baker was hit by a high tackle, that allow Briers to score the penalty.
The Lions went into half time with a healthy 4-12 lead against a side that was yet to beaten at home.
And things only continued to go from bad to worse for the home side, as Whitehaven made an error at the restart when referee Tara Jones spotted, they were offside from the kick, and this put the Lions on the attack.
Stevens was then able to increase the Lions lead once again in the 43rd minute, when Jordan Brown charged down a Haven kick, sweeping it up before putting it down.
Briers was able to convert once again to extend the gap between the two teams.
However, Whitehaven were not going to roll over too easy with the home side hitting back only four minutes later.
Whitehaven’s Connor Holliday broke the defence on the right-hand side to send Chris Taylor in at the corner, but Wetherill missed the conversion.
And the worries and tension continued to grow, with Taylor scoring a second in the 57th minute, with Weatherill making sure to convert this opportunity.
And with the gap in points narrowing it set up for a dramatic ending to the fixture.
As Haven were trying hard and Stevens pulled off a stunning tackle to stop a try with five minutes left, but in the dying moments of the game it looked like Weatherill might snatch victory for his side.
He raced fifty metres towards the posts but was caught just short of the line by Roberts, with the officials deciding that he lost the ball as he hit the ground.
Following this, the whistle sounded, and Swinton were able to secure the victory – a third win in a row that has now lifted them to 3rd in the league.
Swinton Lions will now be able to enjoy the win, and will be set to return against Newcastle Thunder, as they hope to maintain this winning form.
Image provided by MKS Photography and the match report was provided by Ian Rigg.
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