Hello again!
For the walk this year, Leeds have very kindly sent me a couple of things to help us raise some dosh for both Blood Cancer, and the MNDA.
If you visit the Swinton Lions Family Auction page on Facebook, there's a line raffle at a fiver a time for a Rhinos' 2022 shirt, that's been signed by the first team squad, and......
There's also some Rob Burrow RB7 badges, which if you pay a fiver into the Just Giving account below, and PM me with your address, I'll post one to you, or say if..............
You order five together to go to just one address, I'll do that for just twenty quid.
For the badges, or to make a donation to the walk, just visit...........
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/john-spellman
Thank you in advance.
Spelly.
Just a polite reminder on this if I may.
We're now up to £875 towards the target of a grand, so anything you can do to nudge us to the magical four figures, would be greatly appreciated!
Just a slight correction, the Facebook page is Swinton Lions Supporters' Trust Auction, and then follow the link.
Thank you again.
Spelly.
All shirt numbers are now sold, but there's still some Rob Burrow badges left. £2.50 each, three for a fiver, and add £1.50 for postage.
Please pay directly into www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/john-spellman then PM me your address, and I'll do the rest.
Thank you again.
Spelly.
I noticed that Lewis Else and Jayden Hatton weren't in your squad, spelly, were they injured or just not selected?
Just not selected as far as I know mate.
Spelly.
Summat on our 'site today says that Lewis' work patterns have changed, making it difficult to attend training sessions, meaning he's unlikely to be selected in the near future, but......,
His registration is being retained, and should the current scenario alter, we may well see him in a Lions' shirt again.
Spelly.
The club have Tweeted today that Lewis has resumed training, and is in contention for a place in Sunday's squad.
Not sure what's changed, but there's no mention of his work patterns in the message.
Spelly.
Lions 58-14 Skolars at a sunny Heywood Road this aft, and..........
A win's a win, as the old saying goes.
Faultless it wasn't, against a poor side, who offered little apart from spirit.
Lewis Else made his return, but was led off with an HIA, which he failed, so he'll defo miss next week, when we're over at the SLS to ply Hunslet.
Spelly.
Hunslet 16-28 Lions at the SLS this aft, and two valuable league points gained.
They scored early doors, courtesy of poor tackling from us, but from then on, we dominated the first period, and with the ball we had, we should've led by more than the 18-6 interval scoreline.
We had the wind at our backs after the re-start, but failed to use it to any great extent, and the second period was tied at 10-10.
New boys Cornwall (who were nilled today by the Raiders) come a-calling next week, and it's on Saturday, with a 2.00pm KO.
Congrats on your win today.
Spelly.
So the new boys come a-calling tomorrow, when Kelly's Crew visit Heywood Road, and hopefully, we can grab a win.
They were nilled last week by the Raiders, so despite the fact they seem to be pulling a few fans through the gate down there in Kernow, I'll be (pleasantly) surprised if there's above a handful of 'em at Heywood Road.
COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!!!
Spelly.
Lions 54-16 Kernow this aft, and a win's a win, but...............
It wasn't (by a lonnnnnng way) faultless, and the visitors whilst short on talent, had plenty of spirit.
A team that was nilled last week by the Raiders, put three tries past us. The first a smart interception, the second, after the interval hooter, coz we didn't play to the whistle, and the third, when they went through a gap big enough to drive a bus through!
We've (of course) a week off now, but for the next two games after that, we're gonna have to seriously sharpen up, coz...........
In a fortnight, it's the short trip to play Littler's Lads, then.........
In three weeks' time (after we've done our sponsored walk, for which you can still donate to the link below, and thank you in advance) Mazey's Mob are heading to our gaff.
Spelly.
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/john-spellman
It's the short trip to Whitebank for us tomorrow, and they'll still be hurting from that defeat at the Skolars last week, so.............
We'll have to be at our best to come away with the two points, and..........
There's various ex-Swintonian connections there, who'll want to send us home with a bloody nose. Ridyard and Spencer on the park, Littler in the tracksuit, and former chairman Roddy, who's now on the board at the 'Yeds, will all be revved up big style.
Gonna be interesting, and...........
COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!
Spelly.
Oldham 8-16 Lions at a rainy Whitebank this aft, and a real feisty affair it was!
The ref called the captains together on four separate occasions, five yellows were shown, three were for us, and two for them, and in a another incident, one of their guys was put on report.
2-2 at the break, with ex-Oldhamer Abram putting us in front, and former Lion Ridyard, tying the scores just before the hooter.
We scored two tries to one after the re-start, with their sole touchdown coming when we were (again) a man short.
High on quality it wasn't, and we'll need to improve on today when the 'Ornits (Mazey and all) come a calling next week.
Spelly.
Just a polite reminder that it's the walk tomorrow, prior to our game with Mazey's Mob, and..............
There's still time for you to donate to help the two very worthy charities of Blood Cancer, and the MNDA, so please...............
Either follow the links at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/john-spellman or............
You can pay directly into the Nat West account from which the funds will be distributed, and the details there are - 01 02 96 30957419
Thank you in advance!
Spelly.
Lions 34-14 'Ornits this aft, and with Huns doing the biz on the Crusaders, we sit second on the ladder.
Their big names of Chase, and (on loan) Dixon rarely threatened, and we bossed it throughout.
Prob the best we've played this season, with captain Rhodri Lloyd leading by example, and we were singing "Mazey, Mazey, what's the score?" just to rub it in to our ex-chairman!
Over £1,600 was added to the walk fund, and with Pies stuffing the Pinks on Friday, I can safely say that I've had worse weekends!
Spelly
Heading darn sarf tomorrow for our clash with the Skolars, and hopefully extending our winning run.
We did the biz at home with a bit to spare, but they recently showed that they're no mugs, when they beat Littler's Lot in the London Lights fixture, so complacency is a defo no-no.
Gonna set off early, coz of the rail strike, whilst some are going today, and making a weekend of it.
I'm glad it's a Saturday match, as it means I'll be able to catch Origin II live on Sunday morning, before heading to my daughter's in the afternoon for a barbie.
Spelly.
Just back from the Smoke, where it finished Skolars 22-48 Lions, and the very old adage of "A win's a win" would sum the game up perfectly, coz perfect it wasn't!
We set off like a house on fire, and led 30-0, at almost a point a minute, but we clocked off either side of the interval, which allowed the hosts to run in three tries, and the balance of the second period was (at best) patchy.
We were never in danger of losing it, but six out of ten is all I could award 'em for today's performance.
One Swinton fan who I know well, but won't name, was severely ****** off, particularly after the sparkling opening, as (s)he put a ton on at the bookies, that we'd win by more than 26!
Donny at home a week tomorrow is our next appointment.
Spelly.
A couple of things I forgot to mention that happened yesterday, were.........
1) The day got off to the worst possible start, coz due to a misunderstanding, the team coach didn't turn up, meaning a hastily arranged fleet of (their own) cars headed south, arriving around just ninety minutes prior to kick off.
2) Following his seven out of seven with the boot against 'Ornits, Dan Abram was again faultless, converting all eight of our touchdowns, including two from the touchline.
Spelly.
Lions 12-26 Donny this aft, and beaten by a better team all round!
We were 12-0 up, but then just switched off, and never looked like scoring again.
There were some very disgruntled fans at the end of the game, me included, coz our performance was very poor, and to make matters even worse, the Pinks won at Wire!
It's our bye next weekend, so it'll be a a fortnight today before we're in action again, when we host the Hurricanes.
Congrats on your win up there at DP.
Spelly.