Swift does the trick for U18s

HFH U18 46 Wigan St Jude’s U18 12 HALTON Farnworth Hornets ran in eight tries in a comprehensive win over Wigan St Jude’s.

They never looked back after a first minute try from speedy winger Tom Swift who picked up a poor kick to beat half a dozen defenders on a run to the posts. Callum Topping tacked on the extras.

It was a great weekend for Swift for after scoring a scorching try on his Open Age debut the previous day, he went on to record his first hattrick of the season for the U18s just 24 hours later.

Hornets had most of the play in the first half as their defence restricted St Jude’s inside their own half.

It was no surprise when Tom O’Neill crashed over to increase the Hornets’ lead to 10 points.

The final score of the opening half saw Swift cross for his second try following a great handling move before Topping converted with a towering touchline effort.

Any thoughts of a Wigan revival were quashed within the first 10 minutes of the second half when Ellis McKeown crossed for two great tries and Dom Droogan got his name on the scoresheet for the fifth successive game.

Topping converted all three tries to put Hornets 34-0 ahead.

To their credit, Wigan St Jude’s rallied and crossed for two consolation tries as Hornets’ defence slackened off.

However, that was soon rectified and Hornets hit back with two final tries.

First, James Bamford broke through and released O’Neill for his second try before Luca Hill made a nice blindside run to release Swift from 50 yards out and he made no mistake to complete a great treble. Topping converted both tries to round off the scoring 46-12 in the Hornets’ favour. ● Report from the Hornets’ Open Age game on page 58.