Swinton Lions missed a chance to get out of the relegation zone after losing to Oldham Roughyeds 8-30.
In a game that Oldham controlled for the most part, their opening first half performance caught John Duffy’s men napping as they raced to a 4-16 lead.
Although the hosts got back into the game in the opening stages of the second half Danny Langtree’s try for Oldham near the hour mark was a killer blow for Swinton.
With Workington Town winning, the result puts Swinton two points above the drop zone.
Within five minutes Oldham had the lead when winger Dave Hewitt broke a desperate tackle after the kick to have a clear run through and score his 11th try of the season; stand-off Lewis Palfy converted.
Palfry added an extra two just after the 10 minute mark after Swinton conceded a penalty inside their 20m line.
Swinton’s first chance came after a Lions scrum on the halfway line as full back Mike Butt charged forward and picked the ball up from the hooker but knocked the ball on mere metres from the line.
The best chance of the half for Swinton came when Butt made a superb interception from a Danny Langtree pass, he had the support of Andy Thronley who kept up with him but was eventually brought down on the 30m line.
Palfrey added another two 15 minutes from time, the former Batley back taking an easy two points and extend The Roughyeds lead into double digits.
With Whitehaven and Workington winning at this stage, it was crucial Swinton got back into the game, and they would through Shaun Robinson.
Despite not taking the ball cleanly the winger make a jinking run to score right in the corner, however Matty Beharrell couldn’t add the extras.
Robertson almost found himself in again moments later but was brought down close to the line.
The play shifted ends, however a wayward pass by Thornley also meant it shifted sides; allowing Scott Turner to make a full pitch run and return Oldham’s lead to ten, Chisholm would miss his first kick of the day to keep it 4-14.
With Oldham forcing two goal line drop outs in quick succession, Swinton were on the ropes.
While John Duffy’s men weathered the storm the best they could, they couldn’t stop Palfrey adding an extra two a minute before half time, after Swinton conceded a penalty for a shirt pull.
After a dull opening 15 minutes, Swinton got the first chance if the second half, Beharrell launched a cross field kick on fifth that Oldham failed to deal with, Marshall picked the ball up on the left corner, but couldn’t contort his body enough to put the ball down cleanly.
The Lions were the team in the ascendancy however, and a string of passes on fifth tackle near the hour mark deserved a try, however referee Tom Crashly rightly penalised Swinton for an obstruction against Adam Clay.
Any chance of a comeback though was promptly displaced when Oldham scored their third try of the game.
Against the run of play, second rower Danny Langtree picked up the ball on Swinton’s 20m before running wide and scoring in the corner, the try was converted to extend the visitors lead to 18 with 16 minutes to play.
It wouldn’t stop Swinton adding a consolation try however, with a string of beautiful passing that eventually found Robinson who went over for his second of the game.
Oldham however went on to score a converted try in the last minute to round off a comprehensive victory.
Swinton’s next game is this time next week when they travel to Sheffield Eagles
Swinton Lions: Butt, Robinson, White, Hallett, Marshall, Atkin, Beharrell, Fleming, Waterworth, Emmitt, Lever, Thronley, Austin.
Interchange: Barlow, Andy, Hand, Johnson
Oldham Roughyeds: Turner, Clay, Gee, Gill, Chisholm, Palfrey, Hewitt, Joy, Owen, Dickinson, Langtree, Middlehurst, Thompson
Interchange: Hughes, Burke, Spencer, Hope.
Referee: Tom Crashley
Attendance: 693
All images by Oldham Rugby League Football Club
