Swinton Lions suffered late heartbreak as they fell to a narrow 24-22 defeat against lowly Halifax Panthers.
Myles Lawford converted Jesse Soric’s try at the death to earn the Yorkshire side a hard-fought win on the road.
Both sides were having trouble holding the ball in the opening exchanges, but Ben Tibbs put his side ahead after four minutes when quick passing to the right saw him go over in the corner and Will Brough converted.
A few more ball-handling errors from both teams and Panthers went further ahead on seventeen minutes when Darius Carter took a pass from Alfie Johnson to score, but Brough missed the kick.
Zach Fishwick had a chance for Panthers but lost the ball in a good position before the Lions hit back when Tom Ratchford fed Sami Kibula to crash in by the posts and Reece Briers converted.
Carter added his second try seven minutes from the break after a ball from Jesse Soric, but again Brough missed the conversion. Jacob Fairbank found himself in the sin-bin a couple of minutes from the break for a late challenge.
The Lions got back to within four points with seconds left to the break when a good passing movement finished with Harry Higham diving in at the corner, but Briers was unable to convert.
Panthers forced a goal line drop out in the opening minutes of the second half but lost the ball and put the Lions back on the attack.
They added their third try on forty-seven minutes when Kibula set up Gave Rodden to score and Briers converted to put the Lions ahead. Briers put his side further ahead on fifty-three minutes with a penalty for offside in front of the posts.
Panthers were on the attack again at the restart and Adam Jones put a try-saving tackle in on Carter. Briers then added another penalty from thirty-five metres out for holding down, and another six minutes later again for offside.
It seemed like the Lions had done enough, but Ben Crooks went over on the right for a try and Myles Lawford could not convert.
It was all end to end in the final seven minutes with both sides having great chances, but the scramble defence was brilliant.
The seconds were ticking away, and the Lions were defending their own line and with about twenty-seconds to go, Soric found a gap to dart through and score on the right to level the scores and Lawford landed the conversion to win the game on the hooter.
Swinton’s late defeat leaves the side 18th in the Championship, only above Halifax and North Wales Crusaders, who have been handed points deductions this season.
Match report by Ian Rigg.
