Halifax denied victory as Hallett grabs late try
Richard Marshall’s side trailed 22-20 before a brilliant length of the field solo try from young centre Nick Rawsthorne, converted by Gareth Moore, looked to have given them a late 26-22 success.
But the Lions regained the ball from the kick off and levelled at 26-26 with a try from Macauley Hallett, half back Chris Atkin kicking the winning conversion from 10 metres in from touch.
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Hide AdHalifax took the lead via Ben Heaton. Rawsthorne’s conversion went wide and the Lions levelled with an Atkin try, before stretching the lead with a penalty and it was 12-4 when Connor Dwyer rumbled over from Atkin’s pass, the half back adding the extras.
Swinton scored again when Macauley Hallett claimed an Atkin cross kick to set up a 16-4 lead, before Will Sharp claimed Moore’s chip kick, Rawsthorne again missing the kick as the teams went to the break at 16-8.
The teams traded tries at the start of the second half, Luke Nelmes for Halifax and Moore cutting the deficit to 16-14 with the kick, before Atkin created Dan Fleming’s touch down, Atkin converting for 22-14.
Halifax replied with a spectacular catch and touchdown from Rawsthorne, Moore again closing the visitors to 22-20. Moore went close to scoring as the clock ticked down, before Rawsthorne intervened in spectacular fashion. It was Hallett and Atkin who had the final word though.
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Hide AdSwinton: Butt; Robinson, Littler, Hallett, Marshall; Atkin, White; Emmitt, Waterworth, Hand, Dwyer, Thornley, Lever. Substitutes: Beharrell, Barlow, Austin, Fleming
Halifax: Woodburn-Hall; Heaton, Rawsthorne, Butler, Sharp; Johnston, G. Moore; Cahalane, Kaye, Ambler, Tangata, Fairbank, Murrell. Substitutes: Bennion, B. Moore, Boyle, Nelmes