We've re-signed hooker Josh Eaves from Cru.
He was very popular during his last tenure with us, and we're currently light on nines, with Jonny Openshaw retiring a few weeks back, and also the more recent departure of George Roby, who's now an 'Ornit.
Spelly.
A second re-signing now from Cru, with Jordan Gibson on our books for a second time.
A quality half-back, and will fit in seamlessly again.
Very popular with us last time.
Both he, and Eaves are expected to be in the squad for Sunday, when we'll try again to rid ourselves of that unwanted zero in our W column!
COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!!!!!!!
Spelly.
Lions 22-22 Cougars this aft, and at least we're off zero on comp points.
We got off to a flying start capitalising on two of their mistakes, with tries in the corner, with both cons going over the black dot.
18-6 at the interval, was soon 22-6, but our scoring dried up then, and they equalised so late on, that the hooter went before the kick. It looked like a forward pass, but c'est la vie. The conversion attempt was nowhere near, so the spoils were shared.
Fair result? From 12-0, I reckon we should've kicked on from there, but I'm sure they'd counter argue with "We scored five tries to you four!" So "probably" is my answer.
Next up is 'Canes at home in a week's time.
Stayed on for the Lionesses' match, which was a 32-10 success for us.
Among the crowd today was a group of lads from Bern in Switzerland. They are over for a sporting weekend. Yesterday, they were at Sheff U, and tomorrow, it's OT, so..............
Staying in central Manchester, and having a "spare" Sunday, they Googled what was on locally. Lions v Cougars came up, so they jumped on the tram and headed to Heywood Road for their first ever live game of RL, joining those of us in corporate.
They all bought replica shirts, to take home with 'em, and said "We loved it, and we'll be back next year!"
Congrats on your win!
Spelly.
PS - Nearly forgot, Sheff made my day by beating the Pinks!
Another player has joined us from Cru, and you mob know him well, as it's Patrick Ah Van.
He's hardly in the first throes of youth, but hopefully can do a job for us.
Spelly.
Keiron Taylor won't let you down, Spelly.
Don't let him get injured. 🤣
Good win, Spelly.
How did Taylor do?
Good win, Spelly.
How did Taylor do?
They all did (more than) OK mate, where it finished...................
Lions 28-10 'Canes, and that unwanted long-running zero in our W column is no more!
Took our chances, and tackled well, against a team who until today, had only lost two in the league so far this term.
One of those days where it's difficult to pick an m-o-m!
Talking to one of their fans after the game, with him saying "Well done, you played us off the park!" A long time since that has been said about us!
Hopefully onwards, and upwards now, with 'Haven at home our next appointment in seven days' time, but....
Prior to that it's the walk, and any contribution(s) please, would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Spelly.
donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/swinton-lions-rlfc-sponsored-walk
And we are (for the first time, in a lonnnnnnng time) Team of the week in League Express.
I thought we'd have been in with a shout until I saw that Toulouse had won at FC, saying to myself that "Olympique will get the nod now!" But.................
We have the honour!
Happy days!
Spelly.
Just back from Heywood Road, where it finished Lions 40-12 'Haven.
We started well, and led 12-0 early doors, but they hit back to tie the scores at the interval, when for the umpteenth time, we conceded bang on the half-time hooter, but...................
We totally bossed the second half, winning it 28-0, to double our total of league wins this term.
No game next week, and then in a fortnight it's Mazey's Mob away.
My smiles increased when I checked the other scores, and I was delighted to discover that you'd stuffed the Pinks!
Furthermore, it was the walk pre-game, with plenty collected, and if you'd like to increase that figure, then please log on to............
donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/swnton-lions-rlfc-sponsored-walk
Thank you in advance.
Spelly.
Two games for us this weekend.
Tonight, our ladies host the Pinks, in a fixture that was previously postponed, when they couldn't raise a team. It's being staged at Ince Rose Bridge, then..........
On Sunday, we make the short trip to Spotland, to play 'Ornits, and there's a few ex-Lions in situ there, both on and off the park.
They beat us at Heywood Road earlier on in the campaign, so hopefully we can repay the compliment this time.
Reports to follow!
Spelly.
Excellent start to the weekend with a 78-0 stuffing of the Pinks by the Lionesses this evening, and......
We sit top of the league with a P4, W4 record.
Let's see now what Sunday brings when the guys head to Spotland!
Spelly.
Just back from a sunny, cloudless, and very warm Spotland, where it finished 'Ornits 36-32 Lions, and I'm gutted!
We led 20-6 at the break, and I thought "One more will kill it." but they had a purple patch for the first twenty minutes after the re-start, registering thirty unanswered points, and it looked like they'd put the game to bed, but...........
We then responded with two six pointers of our own, and we thought we might be able to rescue summat, but time ran out, and for the second time this term, they've got the better of us by just four points.
Fair result? They will no doubt throw in "We scored six tries to your five." But from 20-6 up, we should've kicked on from there, and won with a bit to spare. It was more a case of us losing it, rather than them winning it, but c'est la vie!
For any neutrals there, I would imagine it was a good match to watch!
Nowt next week of course, as it's Wembley, meaning we're on duty again in a fortnight, when 'Fax come a-calling, and to increase my misery, they ducked today to the Pinks!
Spelly
Our "home" game next week against 'Fax, has been switched to Orrell, as Heywood Road is unavailable, but....
It won't be a new venue to add to my CV, as we hosted 'Haven there back in 2000.
The Panthers weren't on our original fixture list, but they became our "replacements" when Fev didn't make it to the starting gate.
Spelly.