Swinton Lions 23 - 22 Rochdale Hornets

Photo: Mark Harris

Swinton Lions v Rochdale Hornets

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A lack of composure in a fiery derby encounter saw Rochdale Hornets losing run continue in heart-breaking fashion.

Chris Atkin’s drop-goal was the difference on the scoreboard, but a combination of errors, soft penalties and missed goal kicks result in Hornets' sixth defeats in all competitions.

It’s safe to say that both sides headed into this contest low on confidence, as the Lions hadn’t won since round two and the Hornets had last picked up two points away to Featherstone Rovers.

The Lions were brimming with confidence early in the game and they scored inside the first minute with the first set of the game, as Hornets attempted a short kick off which they couldn’t regather. Grant Gore’s towering bomb was spilled by Miles Greenwood and Mike Butt was on hand to scoop up possession and dive over in the corner. Atkin converting.

Atkin added a pair of penalty goals, the first from a lifting tackle, which was placed on report, and the second coming when Hornets were in possession.

In between penalties Hornets had their first chance as Lewis Palfrey found some space and drew the defender, but Josh Crowley knocked on with the try line in sight.

Straight from the restart Josh Barlow dropped the ball and presented Hornets with the perfect chance to respond, and they took full advantage as Danny Yates used Jono Smith as a decoy before feeding Lewis Galbraith with a delayed pass and the centre forced his way over.

Palfrey made it a four point game with the conversion before three minutes later edging his side within two points, as high tackles on Samir Tahraoui and Gary Middlehurst gave him an easy shot at goal from 10 metres out.

Smith left the field with an injury after making a cover tackle from a 20 metre restart before his replacement Lee Mitchell forced a knock on to end the Lions’ chances of scoring another try.

With minutes of the first half remaining a high tackle on Mitchell, who was making his third appearance on dual-registration from Warrington Wolves, gave Hornets a chance to attack and they were over in the corner. Galbraith chimed into the line again to find a half-break and offload to Chris Riley before he fed Rob Massam in the corner, only for the final pass to be pulled back for offside to bring Hornets celebrations to an abrupt end.

Hornets had a chance to go into the half time break level on the hooter as Palfrey attempted a penalty goal from just inside the 40, however it was wide.

Half time: Swinton Lions 10 - 8 Rochdale Hornets

The first chance of the second half came the way of Hornets when Middlehurst’s offload sent Galbraith racing down the left edge with Massam eventually hauled down short of the try line. If the ball had been put through hands they would have been in for a try in the opposite corner, but Palfrey put the ball to ground and the chance went begging.

There was a lengthy stoppage as Jack Murphy was stretchered the field, and soon after Hornets hit the lead off the back of a penalty as Galbraith somehow offloaded to Massam under pressure from a number of defenders, with the wide man touching down.

Anthony Nicholson left the field on a stretcher with Jordan Hand sin binned for the incident, and when play eventually resumed the Lions pounced and regained the lead. Rhodri Llyod broke down the left to expose poor Hornets defence before Connor Dwyer went over in support, with the players coming together behind the sticks.

Off the back of a penalty Lions extended that lead as Andy Bracek proved too strong from close range, before he was sin binned for trading blows with Jo Taira - the Hornets forward shown a red card.

There was still life in the contest despite the Hornets trailing by 10 points and Massam crossed for a second try from Crowley’s cut-out ball. Palfrey was off target again with the conversion attempt.

The scores were level with just nine minutes to play as Samir Tahraoui benefitted from Ben Moores’ offload, and an incident in the act of scoring gave them a chance of an eight point try. It was another chance spurned though as the initial conversion was missed, although the penalty in front set up a tense finish and brought the score to 22-each.

Hornets managed to work their way up the other end of the field and had a chance to take a shot at the one pointer, however Moores jumped from dummy half on the last tackle and ignored that option before his side finally handed over possession.

Hand gave away a high tackle penalty moments after and with four minutes left on the clock Atkin stepped up to land the field-goal and win the game, with Lions making Hornets attack from deep as they saw out the game.

Swinton Lions: Jack Murphy, Shaun Robinson, Chris Hankinson, Ben White, Mike Butt, Grant Gore, Chris Atkin, Andy Bracek, Luke Waterworth, Josh Barlow, Connor Dwyer, Rhodri Lloyd, Anthony Bate Subs: Rob Lever, Anthony Nicholson, Adam Jones, Oliver Davies.
Tries: Butt, Dwyer, Bracek.
Goals: Atkin (5).
Field Goal: Atkin).

Rochdale Hornets: Chris Riley, Miles Greenwood, Jordan Case, Lewis Galbraith, Rob Massam, Lewis Palfrey, Danny Yates, Samir Tahraoui, Ben Moores, Jordan Hand, Jono Smith, Josh Crowley, Gary Middlehurst Subs: Ryan Maneely, Jo Taira, Matty Hadden, Lee Mitchell
Tries: Galbraith, Massam, Tahraoui.
Goals: Palfrey (3).