Stunning Swifts so awsome in victory

Dec 12 2007 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LINDLEY SWIFTS showed they can beat teams not just in Pennine League III but higher up the divisions.

Swifts progressed to the semi-final of the Holliday Cup with a convincing 27-0 win at Emley Moor, who top League II.

Coach John Beckett, whose team sit thirteen places below Moor in the league system, said he was delighted with the result.

He added: “It was a tremendous effort by the lads.

“I could not have asked for anything more than a 27-0 win against a side who are top of the league above us.

“Our defence was awesome. They worked for each other and put their bodies on the line.”

It took Lindley just five minutes to score their first try on a rainy afternoon at the Welfare Ground. Stephen Brook touched down and converted the kick.

On 20 minutes Paddy Vinter scored the first of his two tries – the second coming just four minutes later.

Half way through the second half, Chris Hargreaves extended the visitors comfortable lead with Nick Turner converting.

And after a Shane Whitaker’s drop goal, Turner scored a try and another conversion to seal the win.

Emley Moor coach Pete Southwell said he could not explain why his team performed so badly.

Southwell, disappointed and brief in his analysis of the game, commented: “We never turned up. The result is a good wake-up call.

“I think we may have thought it would be easy playing against a side from a lower league but obviously not as it turned out.

“Nothing went right for us – all credit to Lindley.

“We just need to concentrate on the league now.”

Emley Moor: Pawson, Quarmby, Barron, Holdsworth, Whitehead, Roebuck, Sheperd, Southwell (Darren), Bedford, Adamson, Wilkinson, Southwell (Jason), Adamski (Karl). Subs: Adamski (Simon), Uttley, Parmenter, Hamner.

Lindley Swifts: Brook, Vinter, Burnes (James), Clarke, Hargreaves, Whittaker, Booth, Valentine, McCluskey, Burnes (Mark), Napter, Staples, Turner. Subs: Whitaker, Collinson, North.

Referee: David Mitchell (Leeds).

A minute’s silence was observed before the game for Jordan Valerio, who was found dead at his home in Honley in November. Jordan, who was 12-years-old, played junior rugby for the Meltham All Blacks.