Lions captain Andy Bracek reflects on last Sunday’s crucial victory over Sheffield Eagles and looks ahead to the huge Championship clash against Halifax at Heywood Road on Sunday.
CAPTAIN’S CORNER
Hi everyone, hope you’re all well. Andy here to reflect on the past week and the big upcoming game against Halifax at Heywood Road.
The win against Sheffield was brilliant and you’ve got to savoir those wins with the season we’ve had.
I felt like we gave ourselves a fighting chance as well. We didn’t just play good for periods of the game, like previously, we played quite well all game apart from possibly the first 10 minutes as it was a bit of a slow start, conceding the first try at Olympic Legacy Park. I thought for the rest of the game we were pretty dominant. I felt like we were fully in control in the second half and I never felt like losing.
Having the squad we had to select from was good for the side. The Wigan boys came and offered some flare, especially Josh Woods. When he comes in he gives us a real calmness and he’s got a really good rugby brain. He knows what to do and when to do it and as a forward having someone like that is brilliant. He really compliments Jack Hansen’s game as well. We have good quality in depth with Brad as well.
It was a really good win and we needed to win. We still have a job to do this week and we won’t fall in love with ourselves.
Singing the winning song with the squad, coaching staff and entire Swinton team is always good. It’s my choice of song, the Vengaboys – We Like To Party!
The lyrics are pretty much ‘The Swinton bus is coming, and everybody’s jumping. Heywood road to Sheffield’ (or wherever we get the win). It’s brilliant.
As always, the fans were outstanding at Sheffield. They always have been whilst I’ve been here. Always been a pleasure to play for them. They’ve always been there and always at the games. None of them have turned their back on us given recent results. We were happy to get that win for them on the weekend.
The Bash against Rochdale as well, it was special seeing them after the game. I think they’ve added a lot of spirit and enthusiasm to the wins that we’ve had. You can see that as well, with George Tyson’s try at the end they were all over to us. It was good to see.
I think it’s pretty tight at the top and the bottom as well. Then there’s a couple of teams in the middle. We’re definitely looking up, not down. It’s gutting to look at the table sometimes as if a couple of things had gone our way in previous ways games we’d be way out of that. But we are looking up now and need to welcome Halifax and do a job on them.
We know we can do it and have done it before. We’re always confident for one reason or another and we’ve always troubled them with our attack and as long as we play for a full 80 minutes it will be a good game.
The Championship table made for better reading after Sunday’s victory over Sheffield, we sit two points behind the Eagles and level with Rochdale
We need to get quite a few more wins. The boys, the staff and the fans know we can do it. The fight starts this Sunday getting that back to back win, something Stu said we haven’t done in a long time. I don’t think we’ve ever been as desperate as this before either. Hopefully this week it’ll come.
I think we should feel confident as we’re at home, familiar surroundings and on our field. It’s a nice wide field and we like playing expansive rugby. We have to be confident, turn up and play for the full 80. Halifax are a quality team and if we don’t they’ll turn us over.
See you at Heywood Road this Sunday for a BIG clash.
Come on Swinton!
Andy.
Watch Andy Bracek in action at Heywood Road on Sunday 17th June as the Lions face Halifax in the ‘Battle of the Roses’. Tickets are priced at £18 for adults, £13 for concessions and juniors have FREE Admission!
