So yeah, our two teams will be playing at the same time on Sunday, which is a shitter!
Whilst the guys are up at DP for a league game, the girls will be entertaining the Robins at Folly, for a place in the final at POR.
If the ladies do the biz, it's the Pinks in the final, as they've been given a bye in their semi, with FC being unable to raise a team.
Wish I could split myself in two, and be at both venues, but I'll be heading to West Cumbria.
The good news is that should we reach the final, I'll be able to get there, as the men have no fixture that weekend.
COME ON YOU LIONS ANS LIONESSES!!!!!!!!!
Spelly
Just back from DP, where we were on the wrong end of a 32-12 thumping.
We were pooh, and second best in all departments.
I reckon I was one of only about 70 / 80 of our fans who made the trip to West Cumbria.
Next up for us is a week today, and a visit from ex-Lions loaded, and unbeaten Crusaders, with a huge improvement from my mob needed!
On the brighter side, we were kept updated by those at Folly, and our ladies triumphed 18-12 against the Robins, and we now play the Pinks at POR a fortnight today.
Spelly.
Not gonna be easy for us on Sunday, as we welcome Cru, who have a shed-load of ex-Lions in their ranks.
They're unbeaten so far, and we came up with that woeful performance at DP last Sunday, but.....
I just hope it's similar to when you came to our gaff last term with former Swintonians in your colours, and it inspires us to a win, but....................
Without a picture being placed on the dressing room wall! 🤣 🤣 🤣
COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!
Spelly.
Home from Heywood Road, where it finished Lions 26-20 Cru, and........
The last remaining unbeaten record in the pro game here has gone.
16-6 down at the interval, but we dominated the second half, when all they managed was a single unconverted try.
Contentious decisions both ways throughout, and the penultimate pass in the build up to our wining try, defo looked forward from where I was stood.
It was feisty throughout, as was to be expected with so many ex-Lions in their line-up. One of 'em (a former Chemic too) Ant Walker appeared to throw a punch, but we were penalised, apparently for retaliation. Then soon after, we were down to twelve for a yellow card.
Four tries each, but Dan Abram was faultless from the tee for us, landing five from five, whilst their guy only found the target twice, and that was the diff in the scoreline.
Nowt now for the guys until 2 June (it should've been Cornwall at home in between) when we travel down the M6 to meet 'Canes, but.............
It's Lionesses v Pinks next Sunday at Fev in the Shield Final, and that's next on list. Meantime...............
Watching Cas v Wakey at Magic before an evening, then poss a full day tomorrow of the baize from the Crucible.
Had worse weekends, coz as well as our win, the Warriors did the biz in NRL Magic, the Pinks got stuffed out of sight by the Robins yesterday, and with Hudds nudging past FC today, my least favourite team are now SL's basement boys!
Spelly.
So whilst your hosting Fev on Sunday, we'll be heading in the opposite direction.
It's the final of the Challenge Shield for our ladies at POR, and to add even more spice to it, our opponents are the Pinks!
Setting off early, and having lunch at the Cobbler's in Ponty, before going to the game.
A report win or lose, will appear here when I get back home, but meantime...............
COME ON YOU LIONESSES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spelly.
Just back home from a warm and sunny Fev, and our first trophy for a decade, coz it finished........
Pinks 4-12 Lionesses.
4-0 for us at the break, a pen made it 6-0 around the hour mark, but.........
The gamebreaker came with about ten minutes left, with Shannon Stevens crashing over between the sticks, and the goal put us a dozen to the good.
They finally got on the board with a very late try way out on the right, but the con was nowhere near, and they knocked on from the re-start to gift us possession for just couple of tackles before the ref blew for time!
Another good weekend for me personally, and a double up, following the Warriors' win on Friday!
As I said last week, I've had worse weekends!
Spelly.
I've mentioned it on here many times, but yesterday, I was reminded of an incident over thirty three years ago now, of how we at Swinton were poohed on from the highest of heights!
I saw how Evertonians were allowed to embrace the last game at their beloved ground, with memories flooding back of the the highs and lows they'd gone through, stood / sat at Goodison! But....
That's summat that was denied to another team who wear blue, coz we witnessed the curtain coming down at Station Road, totally oblivious that it was happening! It'd been sold BEHIND OUR BACKS, by the very custodians with whom we'd entrusted our club!
Three decades plus later, we still await a word of apology, or admission of guilt!
But despite never since playing within the M27 postcode area, we're still here, still fighting, and still proud to be Lions!
Spelly.
Just back from our ladies' game, and back to reality after the win in the final, as it finished.............
Lionesses 6-34 Broncos.
No arguments at all, as they looked a level better than us all round.
A fixture clash again next week, as the girls travel to Cardiff, whilst the guys are in Brum.
Spelly.
Konrad Hurrell will be in our line-up at Brum on Sunday, on DR from Saints.
It won't be (by any means) easy, as 'Canes are handily placed on the ladder, and stuffed 'Haven last time out.
Not been to this ground previously, so another one to add to my CV.
Not quite a new ground for me next week, as we M6 / M40 it to the national stadium. Bring it on!
Spelly.
Just back from a sunny Alexander Stadium, and a 38-26 victory to the hosts.
A tale of two yellow cards had a big say on the outcome of the proceedings, as..............
On the stroke of half-time, one of their guys was sin-binned, but we couldn't make use of the extra man, and didn't trouble the scorers during his absence, then.............
We were down to twelve for ten minutes, and whilst he was kicking his heels, they scored twice, and those dozen points equated to the diff in the scores! But.........
No complaints, as over the eighty, they were the better team.
About a hundred of us at the very smart facility in the heart of the West Midlands.
No game for us next week (it's Worky at home in a fortnight) but I'll still be proudly wearing my Swinton shirt on Saturday at the national stadium.
Spelly.
Double header for us on Sunday, with the guys hosting Worky, before the girls lock horns with the Pinks.
We were awful up at DP a few weeks back, so hopefully we can come up with a much better performance.
As regards the Lionesses, it's a re-match of when we won the Shield at Fev, and a similar showing would be very welcome.
Spelly.
As Del said to Rodney, when they made the six mill "We've had worse days!"
Firstly, a double for us at Heywood Road today, with the results being...................
Lions 24-14 Worky, and Lionesses 14-0 Pinks.
Town led 14-6, and it didn't look too good, but we dug in deep, with three unanswered converted tries sealing a win, and we now sit fourth on the ladder.
The girls then took over, and for the second time this term, we beat the Pinks, keeping 'em to zero in the process!
And to make it a treble, Saints stuffed the Pinks in SL!
Keighley at home is next up for us, a week today, but..........
Prior that it's the walk, and you can make a donation please on donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/swinton-lions-supporters-sponsored-walk
Spelly.
Kilshaw's Crew come a-calling tomorrow, and I'm sure he'll have 'em fired up against his former employers.
At the same time, our girls are at Cas, but.....
A polite reminder if I may please!
Thank you.
Spelly.
donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/swinton-lions-supporters-sponsored-walk
Just back from a sunny, then rainy Heywood Road, where it finished...........
Lions 30-22 Cougars.
Perfect it wasn't, as we made hard work of it, after they had a guy (deservedly) red carded on about the half hour mark, but..............
Overall, we just about shaded it over the eighty, to maintain our fourth position on the ladder.
No game next week, then it's 'Haven away in a fortnight.
Did the walk, and made a few quid for the MNDA, and Blood Cancer UK, and................
If you'd care to nudge the figure upwards even further please, the account is still open at.....
donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/swinton-lions-supporters-sponsored-walk
To make the afternoon even better, our ladies won 40-0 at Cas, and FC did the biz big style at Pinksville!
Spelly.