Swinton Lions 10 THE battling Lions came within seconds of snatching a crucial victory at the Recreation Ground.

In a controversial finish, the Warriors scored their winning try in injury time - and then the 12-man Lions had a Steve Gartland try disallowed.

Six minutes after taking the lead for the first time to make it 8-6, Whitehaven lost it to the Lions as they stormed the home line.

But as the game went into stoppage time Colin Armstrong smuggled a pass away and Mark Wallace dived in at the corner for the winner.

The Lions had controlled the first half, grabbing a try after only four minutes when Andy Craig crashed over and Gartland converted.

Kevin Hetherington pulled two points back with a penalty and after half time things still looked to be going the Lions' way with Whitehaven's dangerous forward Siose Muliumu taken off with the leg injury.

But when Paul Hulme was sent off in the 53rd minute for tripping, the scales were tipped the Warriors way.

The home side snatched the lead 10 minutes later when Wallace took Lee Kiddie's inside pass and ploughed in.

But within six minutes Simon Ashcroft restored the Lions lead after fine approach work by Gareth Adams and Andy Coley.

They looked like hanging on until Wallace snatched it late on for the Warriors.

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