We're sponsored by Glossop Caravans

Lions Recruit Tom Spencer on Leigh Loan Deal

30 March 2021

We are delighted to announce an initial short term loan arrangement with Leigh Centurions for the services of prop Tom Spencer.

If all progresses well for Tom and both clubs there may be an opportunity to extend the agreement, but for now he will add some extra forward power as we look ahead to the start of our Betfred Championship campaign.

The 30 years old, 6 foot 3, former Wigan and London Broncos forward will bring a wealth of experience to the Lions, who of course are looking to make it a league and cup double over our local rivals Oldham this coming Friday.

Lions’ Head Coach Stuart Littler said, “I am absolutely made up to be able to announce the loan signing of Tom Spencer from Leigh Centurions.

“Tom is a player that we know very well as he was a team mate of mine towards the back end of my playing career with Leigh.

“At the weekend we did it pretty tough with five regular first team players missing. If you then add in the injuries from the weekend’s game we are clearly travelling a little light on troops.

“Tom coming in adds some real size to our forward pack and will complement well with what we already have access to. After speaking to Tom I feel he comes to us with a point to prove and we will aim to get the best out of each other.

“I would like to thank everyone at the Leigh club for their support on this one, and the deal will hopefully be beneficial for everyone.

“I am sure our fans will make Tom feel very welcome, and I am excited to see him in a Swinton jersey.”

Tom added, “I can’t wait to get stuck in with Swinton and hopefully make a positive impact for the Lions.

“I’m keen to turn things around personally after missing out on selection through concussion protocol at Leigh, so this will provide the vital game time I need to get to where I want to be. But also it’s a chance from a broader point of view to be part of a derby game this week, and to join what I know to be a hardworking group from already being close mates with a lot of the Swinton team.

“I’ve previously played on loan for Oldham in this fixture in 2016 so I know how much of a rivalry it is and what it means to the players and fans. So for now I’m not looking further ahead than Friday where I hope to enjoy being part a good performance.”

Related News

News

LOANS UPDATE – LIONS KEEP MATCH READY

17 hours ago

Loans out - a summary As part of our club policy to ensure the whole squad is getting adequate match time, we have recently agreed a number of short-term loan deals. Over a long season the services of our full squad will likely be called upon at some point, and keeping every player match ready is therefore a vital component of our preparation. Matty Chrimes From today winger Matty has joined League 1 outfit Hunslet on a two-week arrangement. Cole Oakley Middle Cole Oakley is currently halfway through a similar fortnight arrangement with North Wales Crusaders. Previous to this, he spent two weeks at Hunslet. He’s played against Keighley for both of his loan clubs. Matty Fletcher Matty has also been with Crusaders for a fortnight, playing against Newcastle and Keighley, but he’s now back with the Lions. Daniel Spencer-Tonks Dan has also been with Hunslet for a fortnight, but he too is now back at Swinton. He played in Hunslet’s loss to Oldham, and then starred in their win against Midland Hurricanes last weekend. Joe Purcell Joe played one game on loan at Workington Town in March but he’s now back with us. Brad Hammond Same as Joe Purcell, Brad played a game on loan at Workington Town last month but is now back at Swinton. Richard Lepori Lippy played three games for Workington Town in March, but of course for the last two weeks he’s been back in the Swinton line-up, including his second win for the Lions in Toulouse.

News

Eagles swoop in Lions’ den

3 days ago

SWINTON LIONS 4 SHEFFIELD EAGLES 22 IAN RIGG at Heywood Road, Sunday 14 April 2024 The Eagles continue to fly high with another great performance and a superb defensive effort kept the Lions at bay despite the home side having many chances. The Lions made an error straight from the kick off as they let the ball roll into touch and Cory Aston had the first chance but lost the ball in the Lions ten going for the corner. The Lions tried to hit back with some pressure on the line but a short kick and chase by Josh Eaves was thwarted by Matty Marsh. Eagles took the lead on seven minutes when a Thackeray kick caused confusion in the left corner, but winger Ryan Johnson was fasted to react to collect the ball and score in the corner, but Aston was off target with the conversion. Jordy Gibson then had a chance for the Lions but was held up on eleven minutes. Oliver Roberts then made a nice break, but some great defence held him in the Lions ten and as he tried to play the ball Dec Patton was sent to the sinbin for back chat to the touch judge. Gibson then put in a clean ball steal on Kyle Wood and from this Eaves made a forty metre break down field only to be stopped by good defence. A couple of good attacks from the Lions but again some good defence by the Eagles defence. Kris Welham thought he had scored in the corner on thirty-three minutes but there had been a knock-on in the build-up. They did however claim their second try five minutes from the break when Dan Abram made a rare mistake losing the ball in a tackle on half-way and Bailey Liu picked up the rolling ball to race away and score under the posts with Aston adding the simple conversion. Eagles made an error at the kick off for the second half when Aston and Titus Gwaze collided trying to collect the ball and knocked on between them, from this scrum Jack Houghton was held up for the Lions and then Patton kicked on the last, but it was too strong for the chasing Jayden Hatton. Lewis Hall and Eaves then had further chances for the Lions but once again the defence was strong. Mitch Cox had a good chance on the hour after being set up by Ben Hartill but knocked on just short. Aston then stretched the Eagles lead five minutes later kicking a penalty from in front of the posts and then Hatton had a try cancelled out by the officials as he went for the corner for the Lions. Johnson added his second try ten minutes from time when a long-floated pass found him in space on the left and he cut inside to score by the posts with Aston converting. More Lions pressure on the line in the dying minutes which eventually saw Gibson go in after a nice pass from Hartill but Patton could not convert, but it was the former Lion in the Eagles side that had the last say when intercepted a pass on the Lions left side to race sixty metres to score in the corner as the final hooter sounded and the conversion attempt from Aston struck the posts and bounced out but it was job done and two more points in the bag. LIONS 1 Dan Abram 25 Richard Lepori 3 Jake Spedding 4 Jayden Hatton 5 Rhys Williams 6 Dec Patton 7 Jordy Gibson 34 Louis Brogan 14 Josh Eaves 13 Mikey Wood 11 Gav Rodden 12 Mitch Cox 16 Lewis Hall Subs (all used) 35 Ben Hartill 24 Jordan Case 20 Jack Houghton 21 Andy Badrock Try: Gibson (78) Goals: Patton 0/1 Sinbin: Patton (15) dissent EAGLES 1 Matty Marsh 3 Kris Welham 23 Bailey Liu 4 James Glover 21 Ryan Johnson 6 Cory Ashton 7 Anthony Thackeray 8 Eddie Battye 22 Kyle Wood 10 Tyler Dickinson 11 Connor Bower 26 Alex Foster 13 Titus Gwaze Subs (all used) 14 Jack Hansen 24 Oliver Roberts 12 Joel Farrell 18 Aaron Murphy Tries: Johnson (7,70), Liu (35), Hansen (80) Goals: Aston 3/5 Penalty count: 7-12 Half-time: 0-10 Referee: Scott Mikalauskas Attendance: 786

News

BRILLIANT LIONS TRIUMPH IN FRANCE!

1 week ago

TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE 14 SWINTON LIONS 20 IAN RIGG at Stade Ernest Wellon, Saturday 6 April 2024 A superb team performance from the Lions watched by a large travelling fans contingent saw them claim their first Championship win of the season with the home side only coming into the game in the final ten minutes. This was a new ground for the Lions and although it was dry and warm there was a tricky wind swirling around and the posts at either end were swaying throughout the match. Olympique made the best of the kick off getting the ball straight back and this saw prop Lambert Belmas go close at the end of the first set, but good defence held him out. The Lions took the lead in the fourth minute when Andy Badrock broke down the left and them laid the ball on to Dan Abram who was in support, he then drew the defence and passed to Rhys Williams to dive over in the left corner. Dec Patton had the difficult conversion attempt from the touchline and tried to keep the ball low, but the wind took the ball well off course. More pressure on the line from Olympique on ten minutes and this ended with them forcing a goal line drop out as Richard Lepori shuffled the ball dead. From the kick more pressure on the line and the home side levelled the scores when former London Bronco Paul Ulberg scored in the left corner, but Jake Shorrocks was also unable to convert off the touchline. Dec Patton was a constant thorn in the Olympique defence with his tactical kicking. The Lions then forced a goal line drop out and got themselves in a good position a couple of times because of ill discipline from the Olympique defence giving away two penalties back-to-back and Josh Eaves made them pay on eighteen minutes when he went over from short range and Patton converted to put the Lions back in the driving seat. Paul Marcon and Belmas both then had chances, but great defence held them out and then they lost Craig Richards who was helped off with a leg injury. Marcon had another chance before the Lions lost Liam Cooper to HIA after a high shot from Belmas with the prop being sent to the sin bin. It was too windy to go for goal from the position of the penalty, but Jack Houghton went close on the first tackle from the play the ball after he was held up. They did make it pay though from the next play when a short pass found Jordy Gibson who dived over on the right in front of the Lions fans and Patton judged the wind to increase the Lions lead just before the break. A good start for the Lions in the second half playing against the wind and seven minutes in Jake Spedding found Lepori and he swallow dived into the right corner, but Patton could not convert this from the touchline. Ryan Rivett thought he was in for a try for Olympique on fifty-seven minutes but knocked on as he chased a kick trying to dive over. Patton almost set up a try for Abram on sixty-five minutes, but good defence stopped him. Against the run of play Reuben Rennie crossed for the second try for Olympique with ten minutes left but Shorrocks was unable to convert off the touchline and then three minute later it was Shorrocks who found a rare gap in the Lions defence to score by the posts and add the conversion to set up a grandstand finish. Houghton put the Lions close to the line with three minutes left but knocked on at the play the ball and in the final minute Lepori made a break down the right only to be the victim of an illegal tackle from Eloi Pelissier near the touchline and this ended with a skirmish with Olympique hooker and Lepori being sent to the sinbin for the final seconds just before the final hooter sounded. LIONS Abram, Lepori, Spedding, Badrock, Williams, Patton, Gibson. Wood, Eaves, Brogan, Rodden, Cox, Hall. SUBS: Cooper, Case, Hatton, Houghton Tries: Williams (4), Eaves (18), Gibson (36), Lepori (47). Goals: Patton 2/4 Penalties: 11-8 Referee: Ryan Cox Attendance: 3,542

Sponsors

Sale FC
Roadflash
Primus Traffic Management
Glossop Caravans
ROODSAFE
Created by Rugby League World Cup England 2021
Camway Installations
Daisymill Technologies
Swinton Lions Supporters Trust