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Swinton Lions 22 Rochdale Hornets 56

Jeff Tyldesley
19/ 6/2008

SWINTON dropped out of the National League Two play-off positions following a dire derby display.

Their home tie with near neighbours Rochdale on Sunday turned out to be a one-sided affair despite a fine display at full back from Gary Hulse and the fact that Phil Wood and Dean Gorton made welcome returns to the side.

And Swinton coach Paul Kidd’s response to the drubbing was to state: "There is not a lot to say. The scoreline speaks for itself."

Once again, the Lions failed to turn up for the first half, much to their apoplectic supporters’ frustration. And they were made to pay the price by the Hornets.

Rochdale ran in 10 tries, seven of which came in the first 40 minutes, despite beginning the game three places below Swinton in the table.

But they are undefeated under new coach Darren Shaw.

And the Hornets were by far the more penetrative side on Sunday, throwing the ball around exquisitely at times and tearing holes across the Lions’ defence with ease.

They led 38-4 at the half-time interval with Chris Campbell scoring the first two of a hat-trick of tries.

Their other first half try scorers were Todd O’Brien, Janan Billings, Alex Brown and the outstanding Martin Ainscough.

Richard Hawkyard offered Swinton’s solitary reply.

But, as has become the norm, Swinton improved after the break.

They created lots of pressure in the early stages of the second half but they struggled to put points on the board and ended up drawing the second period 18-18.

Swinton, who trailed 56-4 at one stage, were unlucky to see the referee controversially declare that Darren Gibson had failed to ground a Liam McGovern grubber kick at the start of the second half.

And the home side’s misery was capped off by a terrible leg injury to prop Chris Tyrer.

His yells were audible around the entire ground and play was delayed for seven minutes as he was stretchered off to respectful applause.

Swinton’s second half tries, which all came with the Hornets seemingly easing off the gas in the final 10 minutes, saw Martin Moana drive through a crowd of Rochdale tacklers, Neil Rigby finish off fine approach play from Wood, Rob Line, Hawkyard and Gorton, and Wood collect a loose pass to scoot over from close range.

McGovern converted all three tries. Campbell, Sam Butterworth and Eric Andrews touched down for Rochdale in the second half.

Team: Hulse; Frodsham, Bamford, Gorton, Billy; Hawkyard, McGovern; Line, Sykes, Tyrer, Rigby, Johnson, Moana. Subs used: Wood, Gibson, Ball, Raftery. Tries: Hawkyard, Moana, Rigby, Wood. Goals: McGovern (3). Attendance: 488.