Looking to bounce back from a 34-6 loss at home to York City Knights a fortnight ago, the Hawks went to Sedgley Park full of hope.

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But any hope of a victory was quickly extinguished by a ruthless Lions as they mauled the visitors' defence to score seven tries and clinch victory by 26 points.

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The Hawks had the chance to leapfrog their hosts in the league standings with a seventh victory of the season, but it was the Lions who moved into the top four with three welcome points and an eighth victory in 12 matches this season.

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However, it was the visitors who took a deserved lead when, after some bright play, Stuart Young bound over for the opening try of the match.

The effort wasn't converted, but on the half hour mark the Hawks extended their lead to 10-0 thanks to an excellent try from Craig Fawcett.

But the lead didn't last long – a minute in fact. Some slack defending allowed Neil Rigby to hit back almost straight away for the Lions, with Carl Sneyd on target with the first of seven successful kicks to make it 10-6.

And soon the home team were ahead after Sneyd scored a try five minutes later and converted his score to make it 12-10.

That was the way it stayed until half time and the Hawks weathered a barrage of pressure after the break, eventually succumbing in the 56th minute as Craig Ashall scored.

Substitute Richie Hawkyard finished off a flowing move to score in the 64th minute as the Hawks were played out of the game.

The Lions then killed off their visitors with three tries in seven minutes, with Marlon Billy, sub Gareth Hayes and Dave Hull all scoring.

A consolation try from Michael Mark in the final minute of the game reduced the Hawks' arrears, but it was little too late.

Swinton Lions: Sneyd, Littler, Hull, Gorton, Billy, Wainwright, Hulse, Heaton, Wood, Tyrer, Grundy, Rigby, Ashall. Subs: Hawkyard, Moana, Hayes, Johnson.

Hunslet Hawks: Larvin, Mark, Faal, Moss, Reittie, Fawcett, Moxon, Slain, Redfearn, Watson, Dooler, Hart, Young. Subs: Brown, Wabo, Helme, Chapman.

Referee: Greg Dolan

Attendance: 537.