Swinton Lions 10 Oldham 33
SWINTON surrendered to defeat against a workmanlike, but hardly spectacular Oldham side at Gigg Lane on Wednesday evening.
Despite a bright opening, the Lions seemed devoid of ideas on attack, their only option being ineffective kicking behind the Oldham line by Phil Waring.
Their lack of ability in finding gaps in the visitors' defence was there for all to see and it left coach Mike Gregory a very angry man after the final hooter.
The first attack saw John Paul Doherty break, but Paul Smith's high kick across the face of the Oldham posts proved ineffective as the Lions lost possession.
Keith Brennan then had a try disallowed for the visitors before Kevin Mannion crossed for the opening try from a neat Chris Farrell pass. Pat Rich had no problems adding the goal.
Matt Bateman had to save the Lions by putting the ball dead from Neil Roden's grubber kick before Rich himself crossed in the corner from an almost identical kick through. He also added the goal.
From the kick-off Oldham knocked on and the resulting pressure saw Sean Furey cross to open Swinton's account. Roden hit back with a neatly taken drop goal before Darryll Lacey had a touchdown wiped off for a forward pass.
Oldham finished the half strongly with further tries from Joe McNicholas and Mannion, with his second, to bring the half-time score to 21-4 in the visitors' favour.
Early Lions' pressure after the break came to nothing thanks to poor kicking. However, a 50th minute Waring try did come courtesy of a kick. Full marks for persistence!
Nanyn converted and the Lions suddenly realised they were still in with a chance. However, Oldham repelled the pressure and then added further tries through Gavin Dodd and Roden, who scored his second, with Rich adding one goal.
The final act came when Rich landed a penalty goal three minutes from time after the Lions were penalised for holding down in a tackle.
All in all, a sorry night for Swinton. Let's just hope they don't provide Gateshead with their first win of the season on Sunday.
SWINTON LIONS: English, Bateman, Nanyn, Russell, Cheetham, Waring, Furey, Doherty, Barraclough, Hansen, Cushion, Holdstock, Smith. Substitutes: Evans, M Loughlin, Newall, Napolitano. Referee: Mr Peter Taberner (Wigan). Attendance: 1,014. NORTHERN FORD PREMIERSHIP
P W D L F A Pts
Leigh... 18 18 0 1 747 202 36
Oldham... 20 14 0 6 542 283 28
Keighley... 19 12 1 6 603 305 25
Featherstone... 19 11 2 6 519 253 24
Dewsbury... 18 12 0 6 537 274 24
Workington... 18 12 0 6 443 358 24
Widnes... 18 11 1 6 501 265 23
Rochdale... 17 11 0 6 473 264 22
Hull KR... 19 10 2 7 349 286 22
Whitehaven... 19 10 1 8 403 248 21
Sheffield... 19 10 0 9 429 350 20
Doncaster... 17 9 0 8 306 277 18
Batley... 18 9 0 9 273 343 18
Barrow... 17 7 1 9 335 431 15
Swinton... 18 7 0 11 331 412 14
Hunslet... 18 4 1 13 226 623 9
Chorley Lynx... 19 2 0 17 267 851 4
York... 19 1 1 17 149 905 3
Gateshead... 19 0 0 19 166 669 0
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