HULL KR 16 SWINTON LIONS 10

DESPITE a heroic defensive performance the Lions went down to a last minute Richard Smith try in Sunday's (June 7) game at New Craven Park.

Neither side deserved to lose a match where a draw really would have been the fairest result.

Rovers struck first just three minutes after the kick-off when Jim Evans lost the ball in his own quarter of the field.

From the resulting scrum Jamie Kennedy dashed over the Lions' try-line to leave Daniel Brown a simple conversion goal.

Swinton hit back when Des Harrison was penalised for not allowing Sean Casey to play the ball. Steve Gartland, who scored all the Lions' points, kicked the penalty goal.

A tremendous break by George Mann saw him pass to Gavin Price-Jones and the winger put Gartland away from the halfway line for the Lions' only try. Having converted his own score, Gartland gave Swinton the lead by 8-6.

Ian Watson looked all over a try scorer after 15 minutes but he was brought back for a knock-on.

Hull KR levelled things at 8-8 following a Chris Charles penalty goal after Mann was guilty of flopping on Rob Danby in a tackle.

Gartland's drop goal after 31 minutes edged the Lions back in front but they then had to survive some incessant Rovers pressure up to half-time.

Danby made a super 50 metre break up the right wing which Evans brought to an end with a great tackle, then with the line wide open Charles's pass to Paul Rouse was way off the mark and nearly decapitated a touch judge! In the second half defences were well and truly on top.

The first scoring opportunity came after an hour of the game when Rovers' third goal-kicker of the afternoon, Mike Fletcher, missed with an offside penalty.

Minutes earlier, Ian Blease and Wayne Parker were put on report by referee Steve Presley - the reason unknown as the official failed to signal to the crowd.

A succession of drop goal attempts saw Lee Siveray bring Rovers level at 9-9 before Charles edged them in front with another one-pointer.

Coley was then wide with an attempt for the Lions before Gartland made it 10-10 with four minutes remaining.

Having defended so well the Smith try in the final minute was a killer.

In a length-of-the-field move the Irish international winger scored between the posts as the Lions defence finally gave way.

It wasn't without effort on the Lions part though as Coley just failed to catch the Rovers' flyer. Charles converted to leave Swinton heartbroken.

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