Fans Let Down

Date: 10/12/2000

Haven 4 - 8(0-4) Swinton

The fans gave good cheer but on the field it was lacklustre. An early kick and touchdown gave the Lions a narrow lead they clung onto thru a slogging first half.
Promising moment when Haven literally lifted a Swinton player back over his own line for a drop out under the sticks. Some good tackling from O'Neil and the rest of the defence.
Haven repeatedly took the ball almost to the wire but kept failing. Kiddie came close, but....Then in the second half Walshy got a touchdown and the Kells End thought they glimpsed a happy ending. O'Neil narrowly missed the conversion. But while Swinton kept bringing fresh legs on Haven left it late and then the Lions got one over just five minutes from the final hooter.
There were good first half runs from Seeds and Wignall, but on each occasion the ball slipped from their hands at the crucial moment.
A key player for the Lions was former Whitehaven lad J.Neill in the no 8 shirt.
Haven fielded: O'Neill, Wilson, Seeds, Walsh, Wignall, Purdham, Kiddie, Cox, Lester, Fatiolofa, Chanbers, Morton, Hill, Campbell, G.Purdham, Miller and Vaughan (But he was not let on soon enough)
Match sponsors Washington.
As our pic shows the terraces were well filled...