Swinton Lion lost 16-6 to Sheffield Lions last night in a close fought match at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park Community Stadium.
The Lions started strongest in the match creating the first early chance to score.
However it was the Eagles who struck first taking the lead in the 14th minute through Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e with a well worked try passed efficiently through the hands and finished with a flying leap across the goal line by the Sheffield Fullback.
Swinton continued to be stubborn in the face of Sheffield advances defending sternly their territory.
However the Lion’s defence could only take so much pressure and in the 19th minute the cracks burst open as poor defending allowed Cory Aston to side step his way to Sheffield’s second try of the match.
This also proved a landmark try for the Eagles being their 5000th club try as well as taking the full-back past 500 points for the club.
However, the Lions refused to roll over continuing to cause problems for Sheffield who were forced to hold out strong on the touch line.
This attacking intent was rewarded in the 50th minute as Swinton clipped the Eagles’ wings reducing the deficit to only four points gifting Swinton a try when a kick from Halafihi was charged down by Rodden who proceeded to carry the ball to the line.
Controversy struck in the 75th minute where Swinton may feel they had a try wrongly ruled out for offside after Dan Abram profited off a mishandle by Chrimes letting him sneak in and plant the ball, potentially allowing Swinton to take the lead.
This decision proved even more important in the 78th minute when Sene Lafao stole the ball of Louis Brogan, starting a lightening fast counter that finished with Jones-Bishop cantering into the goal area.
⏰FULL TIME.
Sheffield Eagles 16 – Swinton Lions 6.
Thank you to all Lions fans for making the trip this evening. #COYL #OriginalLions #SLRLFC— Swinton Lions RLFC (@Swinton_Lions) April 17, 2023
This result leaves Swinton Lions in a struggling 12th place as they continue to search for points in a so far difficult season.
Sheffield Eagles prove the perfect foil, over achieving this year and flying high in third place in the Rugby League Championship.
Their coach Mark Aston acknowledged they had been “rattled” by Swinton Lions causing “a lose of composure”.
He said: “I’m just relieved, I thought we were scratchy. I’m always a bit apprehensive about games like this because they’re desperate and they want to come and perform and credit to Alan and his staff I thought he got Swinton up for it tonight.”
He added: “But the boys will still get tomorrow off, at then end of the day it’s about winning sometimes you just need an ugly win.”
Swinton’s next game will be a tough home match against second place Toulouse Olympique while Sheffield will look to continue their good form against table-topers Featherstone Rovers.
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