For the second consecutive week, it was a second half performance of direct, incisive fotball that pullled the game away from the opposition, following a steady - if unspectacular - first period.

Hornets were underway as early as the fifth minute, as Paul Anderson started a good afternoon's work with a try. While Swinton struggled to get out of the blocks, Hornets again worked the ball downfield for Kev King to score the first try of his hat-trick. Kingy added the extras for good measure and Hornets looked comfortable at 10-nil.

The Lions finally sparked to life off the back of a huge 40-20 from ex-Hornet Liam McGovern, but lacked the killer instinct close to the line, preferring the battering ram approach to no avail.

With both sides struggling to maintain any meaningful posesssion, the game settled into a slog; both sides forcing passes in the swirling wind and paying the price. But it was Swinton who found the breakthrough on half an hour when a McGovern kick caught the retreating Hornets defence flat-footed and Wood dived in to score. McGovern added the two and the Lions were in the hunt at 10-6.

For the first time in the half, Hornets respionded with some concerted pressure. With Swinton drilled back into their own 20 by a series of Svabic kicks, Hornets probed for an opening and it came just before the hooter; the ball worked tidily around for Paul Anderson to grab his second. Kev King converted and Hornets went in 16-6 up at the break.

In the second half, Hornets were away from the gun. Kev King blasted in for two quick-fire tries inside 7 minutes to complete a deserved hat-trick; the second from a sublime ball by Phil Hasty. Then with Swinton camped on the Hornets line, Bolu Fagborun seized a loose pass to sprint 90 metres and score the game that effectively sealed the contest at 30-6 with barely an hour gone.

Shell-shocked Swinton regained some composure, working an opening for Ashton to score.

But Hornets finished the stronger with late tries from Gary Hulse and non-stop Tommy Goulden extending the margin. Kev King added conversions to take his personal tally to 22 points.

In the end this was a comfortable win given the atrocious conditions and both sets of players deserve credit for giving their all in the teeth of a relentless blizzard.

Certainly Hornets looked more cohesive than of late: Phil Hasty clearly the catalyst for Hornets atacks and pulling way above his weight on defence. Elsewhere, Tommy Goulden grafted tirelessly for 80 minutes, Lee 'Pogo' Patterson looked watertight on defence and, again, John Gledhill looked like a very useful addition from the bench.

Overall, though, Hornets were sterner in the tackle and more decisive on attack. Swinton look a little light on craft in key situations, and the 'blunt-instrument' technique of Moana at out-half will be severely limiting against more lucid opposition. But they do have a workmanlike attitude that should stand them in good stead in NL2.

As it was, Oldham's defeat at home to Dewsbury meant that, despite their loss, Swinton join Hornets in the draw for the knock-out stages.