Manchester Swinton Lionesses season came to an end as they suffered their first defeat of the season in the National Championship Grand Final, losing 10-28 to London Broncos.
The Broncos started the brighter and were soon on the attack. The Lionesses turned the ball over which allowed Jade Walker to send Sian McLaughlin through a gap. A superb tackle by the Lionesses prevented her from scoring. Walker put in a kick into the in-goal, but the Lionesses were then penalised for offside.
From the penalty, the Broncos moved the ball across to Emily Bell, who slipped the ball out to Jade Mullen to score in the corner. Kathryn Salter then stepped up but missed the conversion. A knock on by the Broncos from the restart allowed the Lionesses to launch their first serious attack. Runs by Yasmin Parton Sotomayor and Eleanor Atherton got them close to the line. Sammi Simpson sent Sydney Alderman-Smith through a gap, but she was tackled short of the line.
Kerrie Evans found a pocket of space with the ball in hand, but she was tackled high. Sammi Simpson, Tamika Bull and Eleanor Atherton quickly moved the ball across the field from the resulting penalty before being tackled. The ball was moved back across the field but a pass from Grace Arrowsmith to Sydney Alderman-Smith could not be taken.
London went back on the attack with runs from Kathryn Salter and Jade Mullen. A Jade Walker kick in the in-goal was taken by Tamika Bull who was unable to get back into the field of play. From the drop out, London moved the ball across to Sian McLaughlin to crash over the line to score. Kathryn Salter converted.
Runs by Sammi Simpson and Kerrie Evans sent the Lionesses back on the attack. Eleanor Atherton was tackled just shy of the line before quick hands by Emma Welsford and Tamika Bull got the ball to Kerrie Evans. Her pass to Chloe Newbigging was knocked down by the Broncos. The ball was turned over by the Lionesses which sent London back on the attack.
Kathryn Salter and Sian McLaughlin moved the ball across to Emily Bell who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. A penalty to the Lionesses allowed runs from Sammi Simpson and Kerrie Evans to get them into the London half. The ball was moved across to Maddie Higson who sent Skye Jackson on a marauding run. The ball was then moved out wide to Evans who was unable to keep hold of the ball.
The Lionesses lost possession of the ball on their next attack. Nicole Kennedy, Iona McCusker and Caitlin Keefe got them close to the line. The ball was moved out wide to Becky Smart. A superb tackle by Chloe Newbigging prevented her from scoring. A good run by Amber Harmon got the Lionesses up to halfway. Emma Welsford continued the move before passing the ball onto Maddie Higson. She chipped the ball over the top and recovered the ball but was tackled close to the line.
The Lionesses first attack of the second half ended with a forward pass. Runs by Rebecca Kemball and Danyelle Shobanjo got the Broncos close to the line setting up a ball across for Iona McCusker, who was unable to keep hold it. A good run by Morgan Pearson set up good field position for the Lionesses. The set ended with another knock on. The Lionesses turned the ball over on their next possession. Polly Roberts and Emily Hughes got the Broncos close to the Lionesses line. Kathryn Slater passed the ball out to Becky Smart to score out wide. The conversion was missed. The Lionesses lost the ball on their next attack.
The Broncos moved the ball out to Emily Bell who was tackled short of the line. Nicole Kennedy dived over from dummy half to score. Again, the conversion was missed. The Broncos went back on the attack on their next possession. Runs by Emily Hughes and Tamsin Barber got the close to the line. Polly Roberts joined the party and came across to score from dummy half. Kathryn Salter converted the try.
The Broncos continued to attack the Lionesses line after Eleanor Atherton intercepted a Broncos pass to set up the Lionesses next attack. Good runs by Yasmin Parton Sotomayor, Eleanor Atherton and Sammi Simpson got them close to the Broncos line once again. Emma Welsford moved the ball out to Grace Arrowsmith who sent Sydney Alderman-Smith in at the corner to score. Eve Ashcroft converted from the touchline.
The Lionesses went back on the attack from the restart. Runs by Tamika Bull, Yasmin Parton Sotomayor, Georgia Briggs, Eleanor Atherton and Emma Welsford got them close to the line. A kick into the in-goal by Tamika Bull was knocked dead by the Broncos. From the drop out, runs by Tamika Bull and Amber Harmon got them close to the line. Tamika Bull then dummied her way through the Broncos defence to score. The conversion was missed.
The Broncos turned the ball over near the Lionesses line. Runs by Georgia Briggs and Amber Harmon got the Lionesses to halfway. Tamika Bull kicked over the top before being taken out with a late hit. From the resulting penalty, Amber Harmon was tackled short of the line. Abbie Singleton dummied a pass to the left before spinning round to dive over to the right to score from dummy half. The referee disallowed the try for obstruction.
From the penalty, London quickly moved the ball up field. Another good tackle by Chloe Newbigging prevented them from scoring. Good runs by Emma Welsford and Skye Jackson got the Lionesses close to the London line. The ball was moved across to Grace Arrowsmith who was held up over the try line. London turned the ball over near the Lionesses line.
Runs by Skye Jackson, Emma Welsford and Kerrie Evans got the Lionesses close to the London line. The ball was moved across to Tamika Bull whose kick forced London to knock the ball dead. From the drop out, the Lionesses continued to attack the London line with runs from Eve Ashcroft, Skye Jackson and Emma Welsford. The Ball was moved across to Grace Arrowsmith who was tackled short. London were penalised for offside. From the penalty, Eleanor Atherton was tackled short of the line. The ball was moved out wide, but possession was lost.
Words provided by Alan Dixon. Photgrpahy courtesy of MKS Photography.
