Swinton 24 Featherstone Rovers 26: Raynor rescues Rovers with late double to see off Swinton challenge

FEATHERSTONE coach Darryl Powell saluted his side for the bravery which he believed helped them edge out Swinton.

Powell’s battling Rovers side clinched victory by just two points in a highly-entertaining encounter at the Leigh Sports Village.

And Powell admitted after his side’s victory that he expected the Lions to be a difficult test on their travels.

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“It was always going to be a big game for us, especially sandwiched between two massive cup ties,” admitted Powell. “I thought Swinton were excellent and they gave us a very tough game, but we gave them a few chances which put even more pressure on us.

“It’s always good to get the three points, but they made us work very hard to beat them. You cannot afford to drop points as this league is very tight and you could end up dropping down the league quite a bit.

“The win was important as we go into our very tough game against Wigan next weekend.”

Centre Sam Smeaton opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute, only for Dale Cunniffe to level matters just seven minutes later. Ian Mort added the points.

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Liam Finn restored Rovers’ lead with a 25th-minute score, but the Lions hit back again thanks to a clinical finish from Martin Ainscough.

And then Swinton moved 18-10 clear when Adam Higson scored nine minutes before the break and then Mort added another successful kick.

Finn bagged his second try six minutes after the break to reduce the arrears and then former Super League star Gareth Raynor raced over.

Kevin Penny put the Lions four points ahead with 10 minutes left, but Raynor won it for Rovers with the final try of the game with four minutes remaining.

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Swinton Lions: Hawkyard, Mort, Higson, Armstrong, Penny, Ainscough, Watson, Mills, Smith, Meekin, Cunniffe, Hawkyard, I’Anson. Substitutes: Morrison, Riley, Hale, Ashall.

Featherstone Rovers: Hardman, Raynor, Smeaton, Worthington, Saxton, Briggs, Finn, Haley, Kaye, Lockwood, Grayshon, Spears, Hepworth. Substitutes: Kain, Maloney, England, Bostock.

Referee: C Sharrad (RFL).