Panthers home in on elusive first win

Swinton Lions 44 points Blackpool Panthers 30 points.

Those hardy souls who have followed Blackpool Panthers during their 43 match losing run left Sedgley Park RUFC on Good Friday wondering how on earth the run reached 44.

After presenting their hosts with four gift 1st half tries the Panthers fought back well to level at 18-18 at the interval. It could not have been a worse start. Swinton kicked off into a howling gale and the ball held up in the wind for Swinton to re-gather and on the sixth tackle a clever kick through saw Dean Gorton score wide out. It quickly got worse after a needless penalty given away, Rob Line crashed over near the posts for Hawkyard to convert to leave the hosts with an early 10-0 lead.

After 12 minutes determined play by the Panthers retained possession from within their own half and good play saw winger Damien Munro dash over near the posts converted by Johnny Leather to reduce the arrears to 10-6. Two identical unconverted tries by winger Chris Billy in the space of four minutes saw the lead stretched to 18-6. Both tries were from clever grubber kicks on the last tackle for Billy to score unopposed in the corner.

The Panthers introduced Scott O’ Brien for his debut and the youngster quickly made his mark by sending in Carl Jones to score out wide. Johnny Leather’s excellent conversion reduced the arrears to 18-12. This was quickly followed by O’Brien sending in Leather to score unopposed by the posts after breaking a tackle 30 yards out. Leather converted his own try to level matters at the interval 18-18.

Young O’Brien was quickly at it again after the interval when his clever kick was gathered by Leather, who dashed under the posts and his conversion saw the Panthers in almost un-chartered waters with a 24-18 lead. The Panthers then pressed for the next five minutes but the decisive further score would not come.

The Panthers held their lead for 12 minutes before Moana crashed over for a converted try to level the scores at 24-24. On the hour mark the veteran Chris Billy completed his hat trick with a converted try scored by sheer brute strength to leave Swinton 30-24 in front. McGovern then kicked a penalty before converting his own try to leave the Panthers with a 38-24 deficit.

Scott O’Brien then scored a fine solo try converted by Leather to reduce the arrears to 38-30. The final hooter sounded, but Swinton somehow conjured up a further converted try to give the score line a flattering 44-30 to Swinton.

The Panthers now have three consecutive home games starting with the visit of Doncaster on Easter Monday. Hopes are high that the first victory is certainly on the horizon.
Panthers team.

Lather, Smith, Jones (Carl), Killgannon. Ash, Gambles, Warriner, Clogh, Fairhurst, Kay, Ratcliffe, Bowland. Subs (All used) O’Brien, Barton, Tunstead and Wallace (Mike).

Attendance 447