Match Report: Newcastle Thunder v Swinton Lions Betfred Championship Round 21

Newcastle Thunder and Swinton Lions played out a physical contest on a windy Tyneside. Swinton executed their game plan to stifle Thunder well. Thunder themselves were far from their best as their error count was high.

In windy conditions, Thunder scored first as Andy Djeukessi found his way to the corner to touch down, Myles Harrison added the conversion to give the Tynesiders a 6-0 lead. Shortly after, Newcastle doubled their lead as Jordan Lipp broke and he found Thunder captain Will Roberts to score.

On 17 minutes Lipp turned provider again as he found King Vuniyayawa who powered over to score, Harrison converted and Thunder finished the first quarter 18-0 in the lead.

Swinton then upped their physical intensity through the likes of Trent Kelly-Duffy who carried to the Thunder defence. They threatened the Thunder line but Thunder held firm. Will Roberts produced a nice kick to force a goal line drop out but Thunder couldn’t capitalise as Swinton’s brave defence stood firm.

Thunder’s final score of the half came as Will Roberts scored his second of the game after good combination work from Myles Harrison and Andy Djeukessi found Roberts to score to give the Tynesiders a 22-0 half time lead.

Anthony Murray’s side came out all guns blazing in the second half, the game got heated as the teams came together a couple of times. Jordan Lipp scored a nice solo effort on 46 minutes to extend the lead for Thunder. Shortly after things looked ominous for Swinton as Thunder scored two more tries as the teams headed into the last quarter.

Jordan Lipp found Joe Law who powered over to score a deserved try for his performance and shortly after Noah Whittingham got on the end of a grubber kick to pounce to score. Harrison missed the conversions in the wind but Thunder led 34-0 going into the final quarter and would’ve looked to kick on and put Swinton to the sword.

Swinton showed real heart and character though and scored two deserved tries of their own in the last quarter. Pat Ah Van intercepted a loose Thunder pass but was caught by the Thunder defence. The ball was recycled to Harry Higham to score in the corner, the conversion was missed. Swinton had their tails up at this point and were threatening while Thunder’s error count continued.

Jack Smith did break but his pass found a Swinton defender. The final score of the game came as Pat Ah Van put in a huge kick, Thunder thought it had been knocked on in the air but Aaron Lynch reacted quickest to score, Ratchford converted well in the wind. The try saw the two teams come together again and the referee had a word with both captains.

Anthony Murray will take heart from the way his side came back in the final quarter, they stuck to a game plan to frustrate Thunder. For Graham Steadman, there’ll be frustrations as Thunder were far from their fluid best in attack but some credit has to go to Swinton for that.