When they weren’t lying all over tackles, loitering offside or launching cheap high shots at Hornets’ playmakers, Swinton did produce some tidy football, but indiscipline at key moments and a goalkicker who couldn’t hit a barn from a yard gave Hornets the latitude they needed to make convincing job of it.

Swinton started quite well, though - a crisp pass from Ayres found Patterson arriving with sufficient pace to carry him away from the defence to score after only six minutes.

The try was neutralised by Mark McCully’s two penalties - both for stupidly high hits on Radney Bowker.

Hornets hit the front after quarter of an hour: John Braddish engineering space enough to send in McCully.

Swinton continued to spoil. Following repeated warnings for loitering too long in the tackle, Watson was dispatched for ten minutes to think about his contribution. He pranced to the touchline under a barrage of jeers.

Hornets took full and immediate advantage. With Watson not yet parked on the bench, Radney Bowker targeted the hole where he should have been and sent Andy Gorski in with a pinpoint pass.

Watson returned to the field nine minutes later to join his team-mates under the Swinton cross-bar after Braddish had sent in McCully for his second. Twenty-nil.

Right on the hooter, Braddish turned scorer, running off a wide Bowker pass to skate in. Half-time Hornets 20, Swinton 4.

Bowker and Braddish performed a reprise of their effort with just five minutes of the second half gone - but Swinton briefly raised their game above the mire.

First Irwin ended an expansive passing move to score in the corner; them came the fluke try of the season. Swinton made big break down centre field; Warren Ayres chucked a huge looping speculator inside; the ball fell into Mark McCully’s stride and ricocheted freakishly off his toe-cap; Safraz patel was first to react and dived in to score. Marsh hoofed the conversion attempt into the tea-bar.

Hornets composed themselves and went back to work. Gorski was the recipient of a nicely worked move - ghosting in to score on the hour. Just four minutes later, Bowker sent an Excocet of a pass into acres of space and, with the Swinton defence transfixed at the sheer beauty of its execution, Braddish arrived on an acutely angled run to blast through and score untouched. marvellous stuff.

The next set of six, Swinton’s Irwin was sin-binned for more arsing about in the tackle; Hornets punished the Lions clinically - quick hands sending Chris Campbell and Radney Bowker in in quick succession.

Swinton ran in two late, late consolation tries, but Hornets were home and hosed at 54-20.

For a game that never really came to life, Hornets worked hard to create plenty of chances - and when they weren’t being snuffed out of the game by somewhat agricultural tactics, they worked the ball well.

The Bobster’s pleasure at a convincing win under difficult circumstances was tempered by his concern for Hornets’ defensive lapses. “We’re keeping our shape really well”, said Goulding afterwards: :...the lads aren’t coming looking for the ball, the ball’s coming looking for them. But I’m not happy with the defence - we shouldn’t be conceding that many points at home. We’re going to have to get that sorted out.”

It’s refreshing to have a perfectionist at the helm - but Bobbie shouldn’t be too hard on his team or himself. This Hornets side is capable of playing sublime, scintillating football that provides supreme entertainment for the spectators. Ultimately, a Hornets team that wins playing good Rugby League and giving 100% is all we’ll ever ask for. We have that already - anything else is a welcome bonus.