So possibly the most difficult task in the middle tier awaits us on Sunday - Wakey away!
Full-time, millionaire owner, shiny new stand, which scores IMG points, and top of the league with an unblemished 100% record, so easy it will not be, but...............
We'll give it a go!
It's a long time since we've played 'em, and I've never seen us win at Belle Vue. In fact the last three times I've been, didn't involve Trin v Lions encounters.
They entertained Toulouse in the Cup, a few seasons back, Mackenzie was involved in a charity match there, and Sheff had a spell with it as their "home" ground, not long ago.
COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!!!!!
Spelly.
Just back from a sun-drenched Belle Vue, where it finished Trin 46-22 Lions, and............
Nowt but praise for my mob, who pushed full-time Wakey big style!
We led twice, and dared to dream that the impossible was on, and a couple of late tries, when fitness showed, gave the score-line an unfair look.
Both hookers, and number one starting prop injured, and Patton serving a one match ban, meant we were far from full strength, but at the end, the hosts knew they'd been given a game, and if we can replicate form like that on a regular basis, we'll win more than we'll lose!
Proud to be a Lion!
Spelly.
Lions 22-30 Knights, but..........
After a faultless first half, where we led 22-0, we managed to blow it!
Even up to about an hour in, York offered precious little, but..................
Jordy Gibson was red-carded, and that changed the whole complex of the game!
They scored five tries, converted 'em all, to turn what looked like a lost cause into a win!
No arguments, we should've put the game to bed early doors after the re-start, but didn't, and got duly punished for it!
Next up for us is Fev away, and I'm not holding my breath for that one!
Spelly.
Had Lions down for a win today and was counting my chickens at 68 mins. Unbelievable recovery and it will drive them on for next week when we at there place👍
Fev away tomorrow, and our record at POR is dismal! Just one win there since '65, and some real stuffings during that time too!
Last week's capitulation still hurts, but Gibbo who was sent off is available, as the disciplinary don't meet till next week, and he's in the squad.
They'll also be hurting, as they came second last week up at Craven Park, so I've no doubt that they'll be fired up for the visit of the Lions.
It won't be easy, but................
COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spelly.
Wow I reckon your birds in for a good time tonight - you will be like @ dog with 2 dicks !
Wow!
Just back from a sunny and warm POR, where it finished..................
Fev 40-42 Lions!
Twice they were twelve points clear, once early doors, and the second time, soon after the re-start, but.........
We never went away, and a Dec Patton pen with about seven minutes left was the gamebreaker, but...........
It was a lonnnnnnnnng seven minutes!
Even after the hooter had sounded, they threw the ball about with a dozen-ish passes, before we grabbed the ball, and killed it off!
Not easy on the ticker, but.............
We celebrated long and loud at the end!
No game for us next week, but I'll be at Wembley proudly wearing my Swinton shirt, then..................
In a fortnight, we host the Bulldogs.
Spelly.
Tell you what Spelly, you won't be disappointed in Balmforth, I watched him play as a youngster.
Tell you what Spelly, you won't be disappointed in Balmforth, I watched him play as a youngster.
Thanks mate!
Spelly.
As I explained previously, our record at POR was dismal!
Before today, our last triumph there was in the 2006 play-offs, and prior to that, it was a cup-tie in '65! So........
A win was lonnnnnnnng overdue!
Spelly.
@spelly How can you win away at Toulouse and Featherstone but concede 30 points in twelve minutes to lose to York?
@spelly How can you win away at Toulouse and Featherstone but concede 30 points in twelve minutes to lose to York?
Said it a million times mate - "It's never boring when you're a Swinton fan, coz you never know which team is gonna turn up!"
The York "surrender" happened after Gibson was sent off. They never even looked like scoring before that, and we should still have won with a bit to spare, but we collapsed!
Gibson is a quality footballer, and (course I'm biased) he and Patton are one of the half-back partnerships in the Championship, but.........
The red card has cost him / us a four match ban, and he'll be a big miss.
Spelly.
Lions 16-20 'Dogs at Heywood Road this aft, and another home loss!
For the second game running at home, we've led at oranges, but didn't trouble the scorers after the re-start, and so ended up on the wrong end of the scoreline!
It doesn't appear to be a (lack of) fitness problem, but we just don't seem to have the ability to turn the screw, and it's annoying, and frustrating in equal measures!
We're the hosts again next week, when the Raiders come a-calling, but..............
Prior to that, it's the walk, so just this polite nudge if I my please.
Thank you.
Spelly.
donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/swinton-lions-sponsored-walk-1
Yet another home reversal today, as it finished Lions 10-24 Raiders, with the scoreline telling no lies!
20-0 at the break, and for the third game on the trot, we didn't register a single point when playing towards the scoreboard end!
A bit better after the re-start, but the damage had already been done, and we're down to third bottom on the ladder.
Next up for us is Donny away, but it's been moved to POR, and a Sat eve kick-off.
To make matters worse, the Pinks beat Saints, so a double loss for us today!
On the credit side, £395 in notes was collected for the walk, plus there's a load of coins too, which I'll put through the counting machine tomorrow.
One result that made me smile was at Fev, with a certain ex-Lion, who's heading to NP next term, making his debut for 'em, ducking again. When was the last time Rovers lost four league games on the spin?
The good news is that £395 in notes was collected for the walk. There's also a load of coins, which I'll put through the counting machine tomorrow, and I'll put the updated figure on here later on tomorrow, but meantime..........
You can still help by logging on to donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/swinton-lions-sponsored-walk-1
Thank you.
Spelly.
So which Swinton team will turn up at POR on Sat eve for our game with Donny?
On the credit side, three of our four wins in the league this term, have been on the road, but................
The only time we've come out smiling at home, was against basement boys, Dewsbury.
Inconsistency has been the problem, like winning at Toulouse, yet putting in a woeful show when hosting Barrow. last time out!
It's annoying, frustrating, head-scratching in equal measures, but....
As I've said a million times, it's never boring being a Lion!
Spelly