Swinton Lions 24 - 30 Rochdale Hornets

Photo: Alan Kilshaw

Swinton Lions v Rochdale Hornets

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Rochdale Hornets produced a high-impact, high-tempo performance to defeat Championship outfit Swinton Lions on Sunday.

The newly promoted Lions, looking to shape a side for a shot at Championship survival, were behind from start to finish against a Hornets team missing last year’s player of the year Warren Thompson, top try scorer Dale Bloomfield and new players Jono Smith and Jo Qanucui.

Swinton tested Hornets with their first use of the ball, hoisting a high kick to the corner that was consummately taken by Chris Riley.

Beyond that, the first half hour was pretty one sided.

Having forced Swinton into handing over the ball near half-way, Hornets steamed upfield where Danny Yates produced a ‘banana’ cross-field kick for Wayne English to ghost in and touch down through a bamboozled home defence. Paul Crook added the extras on his way to five from five conversions.

A series of pernickety penalties gave Swinton some temporary momentum, but a sweeping 60 metre move sparked by Lewis Galbraith’s bustling break took Hornets to within striking distance of the Lions line - where they shipped a sloppy penalty for encroaching at the play-the-ball.

Two plays later Ben Moores burrowed through a flat-footed defence to score under the posts and Hornets looked comfortable.

A series of penalties again gave Swinton a platform to build some reciprocal pressure as the referee, ex-Hornets winger Chris Campbell, constantly penalised Hornets for numerous minor infringements, allowing Swinton to create two tries in five minutes from Kilday and Scott to bring themselves within touching distance.

There was still time before the hooter for Hornets to force a drop-out, and to produce a nifty kick from the back of the scrum for spring-heeled Corey Lee to chase, but to no avail

Half time: Swinton Lions 10 - 12 Rochdale Hornets

It didn’t take Hornets long to get back into their groove. Only two minutes into the second half, a teasing Paul Crook kick to the Swinton corner saw Dave Cookson soar to out jump his opposite number and score.

For the next 10 minutes Swinton hurled themselves recklessly onto a big-hitting Hornets defence but that proved fruitless.

Hornets struck with surgical precision, Galbraith leaving Littler for dead, slotting Danny Yates under the posts.

Swinton did conjure up two moments either side of the 70 minute mark, Dwyer and Thornley on the end of two excellently crafted tries to haul the Lions within striking distance.

Hard, direct forward play shoved Swinton back downfield and - as they sought to play out of their own half - debutant Kieron Walpole picked Swinton’s pocket to score a well-taken interception and put the game to bed as a contest.

There was still time for a last minute brawl that saw Stu Biscomb, impressive all afternoon in the pack, shown a red card after taking a carry into the Swinton Lions line, after which a brawl ensued. The referee signalled use of an elbow, although the referee didn’t stop play until after Biscomb had played the ball and persistent brawler Barlow came running in to start a melee following theatrics from ex Hornet Shaun Robinson.

Swinton found just enough energy to lodge a late Scott try to give the score a veneer of respectability, but the reality was that Hornets bossed this game throughout.