SWINTON LIONS 32, GATESHEAD THUNDER 57: Gateshead Thunder put in a stunning display to take the LHF Healthplan National League Two points and condemn the Lions to their first home defeat of the season.

Thunder took the lead in the third minute when the Lions had been penalised for offside, and Craig Firth sent Wade Liddell racing in on the left, with Chris Birch adding the goal points.

The Lions hit back three minutes later when some good passing on the left side saw Marlon Billy cross, but Mick Coates could not convert.

Thunder increased their lead in the 13th minute when Birch put a good kick through the Lions defence for Firth to race onto and score on the left, but this went unconverted.

Birch added the third Thunder try midway through the half when he scored under the posts after Lee Patterson fumbled Scott Collins grubber kick, the scrum half also added the goal points.

The Lions then came back with two tries in a two minute spell.

Chris Maye made a break upfield only to be brought down short and held onto for too long by Liddell, who was despatched to the sin-bin.

From the resulting penalty Danny Heaton went over, but again Coates could not convert.

Then, just after the re-start, new signing Matt Leigh went over for his first Lions try.

Coates this time added the conversion to put his side to within two points of the visitors.

The home side then took the lead eight minutes from the break, when Leigh and Andy Crabtree combined to send Phil Joseph over.

Thunder bounced back again and Liddell added his second try in the 35th minute when Mike Hobbs kicked through and Patterson again lost control of the ball over his own line for the Thunder man to score, and Birch again added the simple goal points.

They added their fifth try on the stroke of half time when Joel Barnes intercepted an Ian Watson pass to race half the length of the field and score by the posts, with Birch again adding the goal as Thunder took a ten-point lead into the break.

The visitors did not control the ball well in the very early stages of the second half and the Lions made them pay for it, as they added two quick tries with Patterson racing in under the posts after some weak tackles, followed by a Warren Ayres conversion, before Watson put a great kick into the corner and with no Thunder defender at home Coates scored, but the conversion was missed and the score was locked at 28-28.

Again, Thunder came back strongly and Firth added his second following a great chip and chase by Hobbs, with Birch kicking the goal.

Liddell completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute and again Birch made no mistake with the boot.

Chris Irwin scored the Lions final try in the 66th minute from a Heaton kick through, but the conversion attempt from Ayres hit the posts and bounced out.

Birch scored his second try nine minutes from time following another error at the back from the Lions and he also converted his own try before Barnes added his second following more pressure on the Lions line, as Thunder hit the half century.

Birch then added a cheeky drop goal with a minute left of the game and from the kick off the Lions made yet another error.

Watson again had his pass intercepted and Robin Peers raced 75 metres to score under the sticks and Birch goaled to give himself a personal points tally of 25.

LIONS: Patterson, Chris Irwin, Rob Russell, Chris Maye, Marlon Billy, Mick Coates, Ian Watson, Paul Southern, Andy Crabtree, Ian Parry, Danny Heaton, Danny Barton, Phil Joseph. Subs: Warren Ayres, Ian Sinfield, Matt Leigh, Wes Rogers.

Ian Rigg