Well, as the old saying goes.........
I've had worse weekends!
Friday saw the Pinks get a silver medal, on Saturday the Warriors came back from the dead to beat Canberra, and today (whilst the performance was far from perfect) we find ourselves a mere eighty minutes from Wembley.
I was on duty again, so could watch the match. We were the better side, but Oldham were far from disgraced, and Ridyard's one-pointer that put us three scores clear, was defo the game breaker.
Whoever we meet in the semi, will be a better side than the Roughyeds, and we'll have to be at our very best, if we want to progress to that little corner of Middlesex come July.
Spelly.
Good start to the season for you men Spelly, I think Swinton will go well this year, and I hope they do.
on a scale of 1/10,
how devestated would you be if Swinton finally made it to Wembley and restrictions were still in place?!
Good start to the season for you men Spelly, I think Swinton will go well this year, and I hope they do. on a scale of 1/10, how devestated would you be if Swinton finally made it to Wembley and restrictions were still in place?!
It doesn't even bear thinking about mate!
I honestly don't know what I'd do!
I just hope everything is back to (summat like) normality by then!
Spelly.
Spelly, reading the above its good to know your still getting to see home games but how are you going to wangle yourself into away games.
When did you last miss a competitive game.
Spelly, reading the above its good to know your still getting to see home games but how are you going to wangle yourself into away games. When did you last miss a competitive game.
We played Kear's Crew at Dewsbury in a pre-season friendly, and I had an invite to that. I was checked on entering the car park, then again (plus temp taken) as I entered the ground, then "clocked off" as I left after the match then............
For the two subsequent home games, I've been on duty, so watching the action was no prob, but............
It would appear (unless summat drastic transpires meantime) that Good Friday at the Roughyeds will be the first time since October '79, that the Lions have played, and I've not been there! Two fights over the Pond, and four across La Manche, are in that list.
Am I disappointed? Of course I am, but rules are rules, and 120,000+ people in the UK alone, are no longer with us because of Covid, and their families' losses are faaaaaaaaaaaar greater than mine.
Spelly
Good game to watch, made me wonder do you have the majority of advertising there ? and what crowds do sale get last time you were on the beeb ?Difficult to answer that nothing springs to mind, so hopefully not insulting was it the floodlight cup I reckon we will get you in the titanic cup
Sorry for the delay mate, but missed your reply earlier.
As regards the adverts, I would think we do, as our crowds as poor as there were / are, are better than Sale's.
The last time we were on the Beeb? It was '81 in the semi of the (long gone) John Player Trophy. We'd won a titanic battle 6-0 at Pinksville in the previous round, and that took us to a very cold and icy Headingley, for a last four clash with Hull KR. We lost but John Clough scored the try of the game for us. FC beat Oldham in the other game 24 hours later, to set up a local derby final, and that was at Leeds as well, with their under soil heating coming to the fore.
Your mob v mine in the 1895 semis? Let's save it for Wembley eh?
Spelly.
Oldham 28-20 Lions at a sunny Bower Fold today.
I actually got to the game, as I had a phone call on Wednesday, saying there was a place for me.
We were poor for the opening ten minutes or so, and were 10-4 down, but then.......................
Some decent football put us 20-10 up at the break, but then.........................
We committed suicide in the second half, and never troubled the scorers, or even threatened to!
We got what we deserved! Nowt!
So (not for the first or second time) We're on P1, L1 after the opener!
Two incidents today, and I can't recall when either last happened to us..............
1) We were awarded a penalty try, and.............
2) We had a guy sent off on his debut.
Spelly.
Lions 8-32 Wire this aft, and no complaints at all! Proud to be a Lion!
Before the game, I said I'd be happy keeping it under fifty, and scoring a try, which was more than accomplished.
We led 8-4 at one point, but that was as near as we came to pulling off a shock win, but................
Our fitness matched theirs, and we were still going in hard as the final hooter sounded.
No Widdop or Hughes, but they still put out a hugely strong side, but we matched 'em blow for blow for the whole contest.
Biased I might (defo?) be, I would suggest our performance was the best of the four 1895-ers who were left in the Challenge Cup.
York at home is our next appointment, and that's a week today.
Spelly.
Lions 8-32 Wire this aft, and no complaints at all! Proud to be a Lion! Before the game, I said I’d be happy keeping it under fifty, and scoring a try, which was more than accomplished. We led 8-4 at one point, but that was as near as we came to pulling off a shock win, but……………. Our fitness matched theirs, and we were still going in hard as the final hooter sounded. No Widdop or Hughes, but they still put out a hugely strong side, but we matched ’em blow for blow for the whole contest. Biased I might (defo?) be, I would suggest our performance was the best of the four 1895-ers who were left in the Challenge Cup. York at home is our next appointment, and that’s a week today. Spelly.
Ooooops! It's Fev next week, and then York in a fortnight.
Spelly.
Lions 8-32 Wire this aft, and no complaints at all! Proud to be a Lion! Before the game, I said I’d be happy keeping it under fifty, and scoring a try, which was more than accomplished. We led 8-4 at one point, but that was as near as we came to pulling off a shock win, but……………. Our fitness matched theirs, and we were still going in hard as the final hooter sounded. No Widdop or Hughes, but they still put out a hugely strong side, but we matched ’em blow for blow for the whole contest. Biased I might (defo?) be, I would suggest our performance was the best of the four 1895-ers who were left in the Challenge Cup. York at home is our next appointment, and that’s a week today. Spelly.
Ooooops! It’s Fev next week, and then York in a fortnight. Spelly.
Two interesting games for the Lions. I think Featherstone and Toulouse (subject to them playing enough games) will be the strongest in the Championship, with York looking to build a decent Championship squad.
I agree the Lions appeared to put up a decent fight against Warrington. Widnes - well they were Widnes!!!
Lions 6-36 Fev at a sunny Heywood Road this afternoon, and all the damage was done in the first half.
With seven out injured (two season long) it was never gonna be easy against a team of Rovers' quality, and so it proved.
We were slow off the mark, it was (deservedly) 26-0 at oranges, and game over. We tightened it up after the break, and they only scored two more tries, the second of which came bang on the hooter.
But no complaints at all, as we were beaten by a far better side, and I reckon they'll be there. or thereabouts at the top come end of term.
On the brighter side, the Pinks got stuffed off Les Cats yesterday, and today, the Warriors beat St George with a forty out of forty set completion, which is some effort!
We're at home again next week, when the Minster Men come a-calling.
Spelly.
I've mentioned this many times before, but I make no apologies for raising it again!
29 years ago to this very day, Swinton fans went to Station Road to watch us play the Pinks, totally oblivious, that behind our backs, the custodians with whom we'd entrusted our beloved club, had sold Station Road to the builders!
No other supporters whose team have moved house, have been stabbed in the back like we were, coz they were allowed to embrace the last match there!
Even today, a generation on, nobody, but NOBODY, has come out of the woodwork to admit that they crunchie on us from the highest of heights, and apologise!
It hurt at the time, it still hurts now, but we're still here, and I remain as proud as ever to be a Lion!
Spelly.
We welcome the Minster Men tomorrow, we're both on a P2, L2 start to the campaign, meaning the losers are gonna be the Basement Boys. So it's a biggie already!
Hopefully, we can break our duck, then head to your gaff next week, and give you mob (still) nowt to smile about!
Spelly.
Lions 16-64 York, at a sunny and almost cloudless Heywood Road this aft.
The scoreline does the visitors no favours at all, as they cut us to ribbons at times, especially in the first half.
Injuries again didn't aid our situation, and we were down to eighteen fit players at kick off, with Martyn Ridyard adding to the woes, when he hobbled off prior to the interval, but...........
I'm not using that as an excuse, coz we left gaping holes in defence, and some of the tackling was awful. We were woeful to be honest, and I think that's the most we've conceded in a game at Heywood Road.
So what's gonna happen against you mob next week eh? With what I've read about your recent performances, coupled with how we've (not) shaped up of late, anything's possible!
Spelly.
I doubt that defences will be on top mate and also I think it is fair to say that the error count will be VERY high.