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LIONS LOOK TO DO IT THE HARD WAY AT HALIFAX!

23 September 2023

The most competitive Championship ever

This week sees the culmination of the most competitive Betfred Championship ever, and as things stand not even 18 points are enough to guarantee safety.

The Lions currently lie in the second relegation spot, but it couldn’t be tighter ahead of them, with Keighley and Whitehaven, as well as Swinton, locked on 16 points from eight wins. A point ahead are Barrow on 17.

Keighley Cougars have an identical points difference to the Lions, with Whitehaven a further five to the good. Bizarrely the team to drop into League 1 could be the one that loses by the greatest margin over the weekend. Swinton are currently placed below Keighley on points average.

First up are Whitehaven, who face Toulouse Olympique at the Rec at 3pm today (Saturday). Toulouse are already guaranteed second place, and haven’t travelled as well to England this season as they have done in previous years, so chances are it will be a tight game. Of course from a Swinton, Keighley and Barrow perspective, all will be hoping for a comfortable win for TOXIII.

Tomorrow (with 3pm kick-offs) the Lions travel to Halifax, whilst Keighley go to the capital to face London Broncos at Wimbledon FC. To further complicate matters, both Halifax and London are searching for points to guarantee their places in the top six play-offs. Barrow meanwhile face York at Craven Park.

 

BARROW played 26, won 8, drawn 1, lost 17, for 453, against 641 (diff -188),  POINTS 17

WHITEHAVEN played 26, won 8, lost 18, for 465, against 783 (diff -318),  POINTS 16

KEIGHLEY played 26, won 8, lost 18, for 490, against -813 (diff -323),  POINTS 16

SWINTON played 26, won 8, lost 18, for 404, against 727 (diff -323),  POINTS 16

 

SWINTON SQUAD FOR HALIFAX

The Lions have named a 21 man squad for Halifax, but of those 21 there are a number of question marks over fitness and availability.

Definitely missing, however, is hooker George Roby, who is serving the first of a two-match ban following his questionable tackle against Barrow a fortnight ago.

Mike Butt is also absent through injury, as are Jayden Hatton, Jake Spedding, Josh Eaves and Wes Bruines, who has been kept back by our DR partners St Helens after suffering a knock in our 21-20 win over Whitehaven last week.

On the plus side, coming back into the reckoning are Andy Badrock, Nick Gregson and Joe Lowe.

The Lions will hoping for huge encouragement over at The Shay, so hopefully Swinton fans will travel in good numbers to support the team in this most important of matches.

Swinton Lions 21 man squad to face Halifax :-

Dan Abram, Andy Badrock, Kenny Baker, Lewis Baxter, Gavin Bennion, Louis Brogan, Robbie Butterworth, Jordan Case, Mitch Cox, Matty Foster, Jordan Gibson, Nick Gregson, Lewis Hall, Myles Harrop, Richard Lepori, Rhodri Lloyd, Joe Lowe, Dan Norman, Scott Parnaby, Gavin Rodden, Joey Romeo.

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