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