Kay scores hat trick as Wolfpack tame Lions with 62-14 win in home opener

TORONTO – After a near perfect record on a four-month road trip, the Toronto Wolfpack proved they can also win on home turf with a 62-14 victory over the Swinton Lions on Saturday.

Liam Kay scored a hat trick as the Wolfpack won in resounding fashion in their home opener at Fletcher’s Fields, just north of the city, and held onto the top spot of the second-tier Betfred Championship with a record of 11-1-1. Toronto has not lost since a 47-16 defeat Feb. 25 against the London Broncos.

The Wolfpack have spent the entire season to date in Europe because of the installation of a new artificial surface at their usual home field at Toronto’s Lamport Stadium. They head back to England for three more games while renovations are wrapped up and will then have an eight-game home stand beginning on June 9.

The Lions opened the scored with a penalty conversion from Chris Hankinson, but the Wolfpack responded soon after as Kay got his first try on a pass by Bob Beswick.

Toronto’s Chase Stanley scored to push the lead to 10-2 only to have Swinton’s Ben Austin cut it to 10-8 with a try of his own.

But Swinton never got any closer as Kay had another two tries, Gareth O’Brien also scored twice and Adam Higson, Nick Rawsthorne, Adam Sidlow, Blake Wallace, Andrew Dixon and Olsi Krasniqi piled on with tries.

Mike Butt added another try for the Lions.