Swinton Lions 19, Dewsbury Rams 29

ANOTHER defeat dumped Swinton in third from bottom spot in the Northern Ford Premiership.

The Lions took the lead in the thirteenth minute when Damien Cleary scored by the posts after some good build-up work by Paul Barrow, Gavin Price-Jones and Ian Watson with Watson adding the conversion points.

The Rams hit back three minutes later when Agar and Eaton combined to get Nathan Graham over for a try in the corner but Eaton could not convert from the touchline.

The lead was stretched in the 23rd minute when giant centre Paul Evans went over near the corner and Eaton converted, but the Lions hit back quickly when Damien Cleary created a try for Howard Hill by the posts and Watson goaled to put the Lions ahead 12-10.

The lead was shortlived though as Rams centre Brenden Williams went over in the corner six minutes from the break but again Eaton was off target.

Ian Watson landed a drop-goal for the Lions on the stroke of half time to make it 13-14 in favour of the visitors.

Swinton roared back into the lead in the 47th minute when Barrow and Welsby combined to get Richard Henare over by the posts with Watson adding the goal points. Eaton landed a penalty goal for the Rams three minutes later when Henare was penalised for holding down and the lead changed again in the 54th minute when Damien Ball went over in the corner and Eaton converted to make it 19-22.

Henare was dispatched to the sin-bin on the hour for obstruction and Eaton goaled the resulting penalty.

The Rams' winning try came in the 63rd minute when Graham made a break down the left wing to put Evans over for his second try of the match but Eaton could not convert this time. He did, however, add a drop-goal 10 minutes from time to secure victory.

Swinton had chances near the end with Blease and Welsby going close but the visitors' defence held out to secure victory.

LIONS: Welsby. Price-Jones, Cushion, Evans, Billy, Watson, Cleary, Blease, McCabe, Eccles, Hill, Rogers, P.Barrow.

Subs- Gartland, Henare, Williams, Stazicker.

RAMS: Graham, Flynn, Williams, Evans, Godfrey, Agar, Eaton, Boothroyd, Delaney, Hicks, Haigh, Kershaw, Ball.

Subs- Wood, Pearce, Cochrane, Long.

Attendance: 1,040

Referee: Graham Shaw (Wigan)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.