Swinton Lions suffered their first defeat of the season as their opponents Dewsbury Rams produced a good team performance to take victory.
The Lions came out punching in the third minute when Adam Sidlow kicked for the right corner, but Rams defence were alert early on and got to the ball ahead of the chasing Reagan Sumner.
The visitors clapped back on 15 minutes when Dale Ferguson made a strong run near the posts, and from the play, hooker Jack McShane darted over with Jacob Hookem managing to convert in the end.
The Lions then tried to fight back and on three consecutive tackles, they had three players held up with Aaron Lynch, Gav Rodden and Adam Sidlow all going close. Rams continued to cause the Lions all sorts of problems with their attack and they kicked a 40-20 just after the half hour and from this came another chance, but this time Jack McShane was tackled just short.
They scored their second five minutes from the break when Tom Delaney managed to crash in at the corner after a good passing movement and again Hookem converted. Try scorer Delaney was then shown a yellow card for dissent two minutes from the break but it was the Rams who went further ahead on the half time hooter when Hookem kicked a 30-metre penalty.
The Lions managed to open their account five minutes into the half when Gav Rodden span his way over on the left and Dan Abram converted. Rams again would not lie down and put more pressure on the line, but good defence held them out.
Reece Briers and Sidlow then both had chances for the Lions, but two ankle tackles stopped them. Hookem put his side further ahead when he darted over by the posts and added the conversion, but the Lions hit back quickly when Frank Sergent broke down the left to feed Rodden for his second and his 50th point for the club, but Abram was unable to convert.
Rodden was then held up seven minutes from time and Rams made the game safe a minute later when Ferguson broke down the middle to feed the supporting Louis Collinson and he scored under then posts with Hookem again converting to secure the victory.
The Lions have now dropped to fourth in the league a point behind the league leaders Midland Hurricanes, they will be pushing for top of the league once again in their next match against Goole.
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