Match 6: Swinton (Home - Championship)
fevnut's musings
We can’t spake, either (or Luke
Briscoe is our hero)
As we write this (Thursday), the
diary says that we’re going down to the club this evening to listen to Mick
Morgan talking about his autobiography entitled “I Can’t Spake’. Well that’s
exactly how we felt driving home from Leigh last Sunday. Nine successive losses
to Leigh plays havoc with the psyche. Never, since that Challenge Cup win
against Cas in 2012 have we felt so desperate for a win. All the omens were
there that suggested it was possible but it was so hard to really believe that
it would happen.
Luke Briscoe’s early try got us
really excited but then we couldn’t help but remember the times we had taken
the lead only to have our hopes dashed. And sure enough within 13 minutes Leigh
had drawn level and then taken the lead. History repeating itself?
The Shaun Robinson try and a penalty
takes us back into the lead but two points ahead with another 58 minutes to go.
Blow the final whistle NOW! PLEASE! Connor Farrell scores but the conversion is
missed so one converted try will bring Leigh back level. Sure enough, that is
exactly what happens only three minutes later. Another three minutes and Leigh are
back in the lead. Oh dear, we’ve seen this so many times before.
Half time. Come on. We’ve got to
believe. Let’s have a second half like we had against Toulouse.
Whistle goes and no-one scores for
twelve minutes. Come on, Fev! We’re holding them. Let’s turn it up and show
them what we can do. Sure enough Martyn Ridyard scores and converts to bring us
back level. Let’s kick on now but yet again it just takes Leigh three minutes
to regain the lead. Then it’s almost tears as yet another try means we have to
score twice to get into the lead. Another Ridyard try! And conversion! Just two
points behind now. You can do it Fev! You must do it Fev! Then Leigh are
awarded a penalty while we are defending our line. They decide to take the two
points and we are so relieved that they do. We really thought that they might
run it and score, possibly putting us two scores behind again with only ten
minutes left. But it’s just four points now.
73 minutes gone and Mitch Clark (superman,
we love you) scores, Riddy converts and we’re back in front but it’s only 2
points. Have we scored to soon? Every time we have taken the lead they have hit
back quickly and now they still have seven minutes to do so again.
The time is passing so slowly. Hardo
puts in the bravest of catches from a very dangerous looking Leigh kick. After
what seems like an age there is just one minute left and we are still ahead.
Leigh are attacking. It goes out to
their left wing but Briscoe makes an important tackle. It’s more than a tackle.
He’s pinched the ball! He gets up and has clear field ahead of him. Go Luke, go
go go Luke. The world goes into slow motion. Go Luke! And after what seems like
an age he is over the line. Six points ahead and we can’t lose now! Luke
Briscoe, we love you! Riddy takes the conversion and puts it over. Martyn
Ridyard, we love you! Eight points ahead and they can’t come back now.
We’ve done it. Nine matches and four years of misery
erased! The hooter goes and we’re in tears. Tears of joy, exhilaration. This is
what being a Fev supporter is all about.
Officials
Did you notice who the touch judges
were? The RFL obviously thought that the match needed strong handling so they
appointed Chris Kendall, who usually does super league matches, as the referee.
But the touch judges were both super league referees too! James Child on one
side and Robert Hicks on the other. And despite the history of sendings off and
sin bins in Leigh/Fev games there weren’t any and not even a player put on
report.
Swinton
How sad it was to see Swinton hit financial
problems again during last season. They are a great club with a great history
and a great bunch of really dedicated supporters. At the moment they seem to be
relying very heavily on dual-reg and loan players. We hope they don’t end up
losing their identity as a result as very nearly happened a couple of years ago
when they seemed to almost become a mere reserve outfit for Warrington. They
deserve better than that.
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