Lions close to play-offs

"We knew it would be a tight game today because London are a much improved side and I am pleased with our performance especially the later stages because we didn't sit back like we did when we were down there," said coach Paul Kidd.

"Our discipline has to be looked at as we gave away too many penalties, but overall I am very pleased.

While opposite number, Skolars coach Marcus Tobin reckons the Lions have achieved their first goal: "Swinton are a very good side and they seem to be cemented now in the pay-off's."

The visitors had the first attack when Jermaine Coleman went close, but his final pass ended up in the hands of Lions' Kris Smith and the danger was averted.

The Lions then took the lead in the 12th minute when Mick Coates broke the Skolars' defence to send Rob Russell over for the try against the run of play. Warren Ayres added the goal points.

Chris Irwin went close three minutes late, while Skolars' fullback Joel Osborn was dispatched to the sin bin in the 14th minute for an obstruction on Chris Maye.

From the resulting penalty Smith went over under the posts only to have his try cancelled out for obstruction by Coates.

Skolars' Zane Gardiner almost got over shortly afterwards after good build-up by Alex Smits and Rubert Jonker but knocked on with the line open.

Gardiner had to come to his side's rescue when he just beat Wayne English in a foot race for the line when Smith put a great kick through the Skolars defence.

The Lions' second try came midway through the half when Neil Hayden, Ian Sinfield and Smith all combined to get Maye in at the corner, but Ayres could not convert.

The Skolars then hit back with their first try ten minutes from the break, when Gareth Honor sent Stephen Green over in the left corner, but Glenn Osborn's conversion was wayward.

Three minutes later they were in again, when Coleman and Jonker combined to send Mark Cantoni in for the touchdown, but again Osborn missed his kick but the Skolars only trailed by two points.

The Lions stretched that slender lead when Sarfraz Patel sent Mick Coates over for the third Lions' try a couple of minutes from the break, but Smith was unable to convert.

Wayne English stretched the Lions' lead just after the restart when he chipped the ball over the Skolars defence to score under the posts with Smith adding the goal points.

Austen Aggray had a try cancelled out in the 48th minute when he was grounded on his back over the line, but from the resulting restart on ten metres Jermaine Coleman went in for a try on the left and again Osborn missed his kick.

English made a dangerous break through the Skolars' defence in the 52nd minute, but Dave Llewellyn couldn't gather in the pass with the try line beckoning.

Deon McFadyen and Ian Hodson were sent to the sin-bin midway through the half for dissent and while they were off the Lions grabbed their fifth try when English and Patel combined to send Lee Gardner in for his first Lions touchdown, which Smith converted.

The Lions started to cut loose in the late stages of the game running in three more tries.

Hodson was next to score when he received a great pass from Smith to score under the posts, with Smith tagging on the goal points.

Patel created the next try for Hugh Thorpe who raced down the right flank to eventually score under the posts and again Smith goaled.

The final try came five minutes from time when Jason Roach intercepted a pass and raced sixty metres to score on the left, but this time Smith was unable to convert.

LIONS: English, Thorpe, Llewllyn, Maye, Irwin, Coates, Hayden, Sinfield, Ayres, Gardner, Smith, Russell, Hodson. Subs: Roach, Patel, Speakman, Whittaker