It's a topsy-turvy wild and wacky Rugby League world we live in. And, as Swinton used the dying seconds of this game to finally swipe the spoils, it served as an object lesson in expecting the unexpected.

However, for 40 minutes, this game ran according to script. Hornets ahead after just 5 minutes as Alex Brown burrowed in at the corner, then Hornets up with the clock as Chris Forster doubled the advantage, a neat try from the back of a scrum. At 8 nil, the home side was cruising; Swinton's best hope of getting a handle on things a 16th minute exchange of punches that saw Dave Best and ex-Hornet Saywell sin-binned.

Temporarily, it worked. Hornets pulled out of shape at the resulting tap penalty and Billy finding enough space by the flag to score.

Hornets pulled themselves together and went back on the offensive. First Alex Brown put a try-making pass to ground; then Chris Spurr did much the same after some tidy approach work. Eventually, passes stuck and Martin Ainscough jinked through a static defence to score. For the third consecutive time, Chris Forster pulled the conversion attempt wide.

On their next visit to the Swinton half, Hornets worked a great scrum move: Chris Forster launching an immediate kick into an unattended quarter of the field, Eric Andrews catching his opposite number cold to get to the ball. But with the home crowd urging him to take the ball in hand, he jabbed a hopeful foot at it. Instead of steering it into the in-goal, he hoofed the ball dead and another chance was gone.

Having survived a bit of an onslaught, Swinton took advantage, marching back upfield where Moana slotted Gibson in by the posts. Hawkyard, astonishingly, lashed the kick wide into the Pearl Street end.

With seconds of the half remaining, Hornets regained possession from the kick off as Swinton flapped and fumbled; just enough time left for Simon Svabic to pick his pass and put Chris Forster in for his second. Svabic added the extras and Hornets went in at the break 18-8 ahead.

The second half bore no resemblance to its predecessor. Hornets descended into a mess of dropped ball, squandered possession early in the tackle count and repeated soft penalties. The momentum swung Swinton's way. Inside 20 minutes, they'd added 24 unanswered points. First Moana crashing in off the back of consecutive penalties; then Gibson after Hornets had been penalised in possession; then a carbon copy effort for Moana and, on the hour, a beleaguered defence folded in the face of a McGovern dummy. 18-32 and the game seemingly gone.

But, in an attempt to regain some sort of shape, Bobbie Goulding reverted to his starting 13 and things got a whole lot better. Now it was Swinton's turn to concede daft penalties. Three on the trot saw Chris Forster grab his hat-trick; then Dave Newton got on the sheet, touching down as the Lion's defence was happy to watch a lofted kick bobble in the in-goal. With four minutes left, Hornets regained the lead with a try worthy of winning any game: Alex Brown launched from half way, skittling defenders as he hugged the touchline to score by the flag. Svabic just short with the kick and Hornets in front 34-32.

The remaining exchanges were edgy. Hornets looking to remain error-free for three more minutes; Swinton keeping the ball moving at every opportunity. With a minute remaining, Hornets took the attack into the Swinton half; handing over on the 6th tackle 5 metres from the visitors' line. Time on the clock for one more set. The first four tackles did their job. Swinton driving the ball out but not in any position to pose a threat. The fifth tackle did the damage; Hornets defenders backing off McGovern as he weaved into Hornets territory, grabbing good field position for a last tackle, last ditch asasault. It duly came.

Hawkyard hoisted a teasing kick behind Chris Spurr. As he desperately backpedalled, Saywell launched himself more in hope than expectation, juggling the ball a couple of times before it freakishly stuck for him to plant the ball under the black dot. Hawkyard added the two. The hooter sounding before Hornets had the chance to restart.

Despite shrugging philosophically, Bobbie wasn't happy. "It's our mistakes that are giving people wins and we have to sort that as soon as we can," he said.