MATCH REPORT: MIDLANDS HURRICANES 38 - 26 SWINTON LIONS (BETFRED LEAGUE ONE ROUND ELEVEN)

Head Coach Mark Dunning addressing the troops (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Canes win back and forth battle at The Alex

Just one week after a comprehensive 38-8 win over Whitehaven at The Alex, the Canes found themselves back at home hosting relegation play-off losers Swinton Lions for their ninth Betfred League One home fixture. The Lions presented an element of surprise for the Canes but an opportunity to produce another first, as Swinton were the only side remaining in League One that Midlands were yet to register a victory over. Swinton had come to The Alex prepared for the challenge, with former NRL and current St Helens star Konrad Hurrell amongst a few dual-registration and loan players selected to play for the Lions on Sunday.

On its face, the task facing Head Coach Mark Dunning would be made slightly more complicated by the loss of half-back Jake Sweeting and loose forward Mikey Wood to injury after the Whitehaven game. Rather than seek a temporary replacement, Mark opted for Jake’s gap being filled by a steady rotation of both Danny Barcoe and Aiden Roden in the halves alongside Sully Medforth. This arrangement also allowed young hooker Ethan Newboult to slot into the 14 role for his first league appearance since March.

The first ten minutes of the first half saw the two sides trade try-scoring opportunities, with the first being Vice-Captain Jon-Luke Kirby going over the whitewash without the ball due to a ball steal, but unfortunately the Canes were unable to capitalise on that follow-up. A few minutes later Swinton thought they had opened the scoring in the left-hand corner, however referee Geoffrey Poumes pulled back play for an obstruction in the build-up.

The first try of the afternoon came just before the 10 minute mark, and arguably was the best try of the afternoon. A set-play from a scrum saw another Mark Dunning tactic pay dividends, as some passes from right to left gave Danny Barcoe an opportunity to produce a round-the-back pass reminiscent of Rangi Chase’s famous assist against Hull FC to Matty Chrimes, with the fan favourite winger leaping like a salmon over a rampaging Konrad Hurrell to score in the left-hand corner (4-0). Matty was unfortunately unable to add the extras from out wide as his effort drifted wide of the posts.

Matty’s leaping effort into the corner (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Just under ten minutes later the visitors evened the scores, with Hurrell instrumental in the build-up by running the ball forward before passing short to present an opportunity for a half-break. The Canes defence scrambled to stop the attack, however an offload practically off the floor found Tommy Porter in space to diver over under the sticks (4-4). Acting full-back Dan Abram kicked an easy conversion from in front of the posts, and the visitors found themselves ahead as the first quarter came to a close (4-6). Just five minutes later Swinton doubled their try tally as hooker George Roby caught the Canes defence napping and blitzed through the line from dummy-half to score (4-10), presenting Dan Abram once again with an easy conversion (4-12).

A few minutes later Midlands struck back, with Matty Chrimes earning the club a scrum as a knock-down prevented what would otherwise have been an easy score. The scrum provided Danny Barcoe with another opportunity to provide an assist, and another set-play saw Barcoe launch a cut-out pass to Luis Roberts who rounded his counterpart and leapt into the right-hand corner to score his fourth try of the season (8-12). Matty Chrimes had another difficult conversion from out wide, and unfortunately his effort once again was dragged across the posts.

The final ten minutes of the first half was largely uneventful, with Swinton keeping the Canes largely penned in and earning themselves a goal-line drop-out following an impressive chip into the corner that prevented full-back Todd Horner from escaping being penned behind his own try-line. In the dying moments of the half Konrad Hurrell was awkwardly tackled by Zeus Silk, with the second-rower deemed by the referee to have applied a chicken-wing that earned him a ten-minute spell on the sidelines. Knowing the hooter would go any second, Dan Abram called for the kicking tee and slotted a simple penalty 20 metres out in front of the posts (8-14).

Half-time: Midlands Hurricanes 8-14 Swinton Lions

The first ten minutes of the second half saw the two sides largely equal, with the Canes defending well to prevent Swinton from scoring any points despite having the extra man.

With the home side back to a full compliment, the first real opportunity of the game came when Luis Roberts took a short Todd Horner pass and broke the line before side-stepping Dan Abram and galloping down the field before being brought down inches from the try-line and copping a knock on the head for his efforts. An attempt by Danny Barcoe to play the ball from dummy-half earned us a penalty, and shortly thereafter Tom Wilkinson opened the scoring after bouncing off the defence like a pinball and diving over to score despite the efforts of three Swinton defenders (12-14). Matty Chrimes took this opportunity to nail his first conversion of the afternoon, and just like the sides were level (14-14).

Tom Wilkinson dives over on his return (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Things would go from bad to worse for the visitors as only a couple of minutes later they would go down to 12 men as Gavin Rodden was sin-binned after being caught applying a chicken-wing tackle to Zeus Silk. From the resulting penalty Danny Barcoe found himself in a position to send the Lions defence scattering from dummy-half, and a well-placed run by Ellis Hobson allowed Danny to pass left so the young front-rower could crash over for his second try in as many games (18-14). Once again, Matty Chrimes was on hand to add the two points and extend our lead (20-14).

Just two minutes later the Canes scored again as the game ticked over the 60-minute mark. A nice bullet pass from Sully Medforth to Todd Horner put the young full-back in space to skip past defenders before being stopped by a scrambling Lions defence just a couple of metres from the line, and from the resulting play-the-ball Ross Oakes twisted and dotted the ball down over his head despite the best efforts of multiple Swinton defenders (24-14). With one of his more difficult kicks of the afternoon Matty nailed a beautiful curling effort from out wide, and the Canes lead was extending to three scores (26-14).

Ellis Hobson crashes over to score (Credit: Andy Shaw)

With the game seemingly slipping away from them, Swinton launched themselves back with a smart short kick restart that forced the Canes to knock on 40 metres from our try-line. A subsequent penalty for a tackle off the ball put the Lions in good attacking position, and despite some strong defence a short pass to Will Roberts presented him with the opportunity to crash through two defenders to score (26-18). Dan Abram nailed his third conversion of the afternoon, and the Canes lead was cut down to six (26-20).

Despite this set-back, the Canes were determined not to let the visitors gain any momentum. Sully’s kick-restart was not dealt with by the Swinton defence, and the motto of never letting a rugby league ball bounce came true for the visitors as it sailed back into the hands of Josh Jordan-Roberts who barraged his way to bring us within ten metres of the try-line. Whilst that particular set did not pay dividends, some stubborn attacking eventually gave Todd Horner the opportunity to show-and-go before passing out wide to Matty Chrimes who cut through the defence and ran inwards to score his second try of the afternoon (and 10 in as many games this season) (30-20). The moustached maestro kicked the extras to add to his own try, and the Canes were back to having a three-score lead (32-20).

Matty Chrimes definitely enjoyed that one! (Credit: Andy Shaw)

A sequence that was sure to put a smile on Mark Dunning’s face came in the minutes that followed as a long pass from dummy-half was telegraphed by Danny Barcoe who flattened the recipient to the cheers of the home faithful. Danny wasn’t done there, and the next play saw him and Zeus combine to dislodge the ball and regain possession. A few minutes later, Luis Roberts found himself with an opportunity to secure his brace after some smart hands from left to right saw Matty Hanley swiftly pass right and put Luis in space to weave and stretch before being dragged down. Luis and the home crowd roared with delight as it seemed momentum had taken him over the line, however the referee quickly blew his whistle and awarded a penalty to Swinton for a perceived double movement.

From the resulting set Swinton managed to get themselves down the other side of the field and in position for Gavin Rodden to crash over Matty Hanley on our try-line before putting the ball down (32-24). Dan Abram kicked an impressive conversion out wide, and the game swung wide open once again in the dying moments (32-26). Despite those efforts it would be the Canes who would have the last say, with a nifty scoot from dummy-half by Ethan Newboult presented Vice-Captain Jon-Luke Kirby with an opportunity to shift left and drop down over the try-line despite multiple Swinton defenders scrambling to stop him (36-26). Matty Chrimes was on hand to kick his fifth and final conversion of the afternoon, and as he trotted back over the half-way line the full-time hooter sounded to bring a close to proceedings (38-26).

Jon-Luke Kirby roars in front of the Lions after sealing the win (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Head Coach Mark Dunning was definitely pleased with the efforts of his boys, however he acknowledged that conceding 26 points meant there were still plenty of lessons his men could learn from a spirited victory. As the Canes formally reach the half-way point of the season they find themselves in second place - one point behind league leaders North Wales Crusaders — as Workington’s home defeat to Dewsbury Rams presented the Canes with an opportunity to climb the ladder. The Canes will have an opportunity to go top in just over a week when they travel to Colwyn Bay to take on North Wales, and that fixture promises to produce fireworks at the top end of the table.

Full-time: Midlands Hurricanes 38-26 Swinton Lions

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Danny Barcoe (Sponsored by St Catherine’s Carpets )

TRIES:
Chrimes (2), Roberts, Wilkinson, Hobson, Oakes and Kirby

CONVERSIONS:
Chrimes (5/7)

SCORE SEQUENCE:
4-0, 4-4, 4-6, 4-10, 4-12, 8-12, 8-14, 12-14, 14-14, 18-14, 20-14, 24-14, 26-14, 26-18, 26-20, 30-20, 32-20, 32-24, 32-26, 36-26 and 38-26.