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PREVIEW: SWINTON LIONS v LEIGH CENTURIONS

28 February 2020

Check out the latest match preview as Swinton Lions host top of the league Leigh Centurions in the fourth round of the 2020 Betfred Championship.

Swinton Lions host Leigh Centurions in the Betfred Championship on Sunday at 3pm as they look to build from their impressive victory last weekend in the Challenge Cup against Leigh Miners Rangers.

FORM GUIDE

Swinton will be hoping to get their league campaign back on track after a mixed start to the new season.

Their last league game was a frustrating one for Head Coach Stuart Littler as they underperformed away to Batley in a 20-10 defeat.

https://twitter.com/Swinton_Lions/status/1231979289718988800?s=20

However, last weekends 56-0 victory at Heywood Road, (all be it against significantly weaker opposition) was a much improved performance as the Lions showed more creativity in possession and controlled the game.

Littler therefore can take positives from the season so far into the game this Sunday as Swinton look to cause a big upset against the league leaders.

Leigh have won their opening three games and have an impressive points difference of 108, it’s their superior points difference that is keeping them top of the league ahead of Toulouse Olympique XIII and London Broncos.

So far in the Betfred Championship the Centurions have brushed aside Dewsbury Rams 36-10, Sheffield Eagles 58-10 and nilled York City Knights 34-0.

Leigh like Swinton progressed to the fifth round of the Challenge Cup after beating Batley Bulldogs 36-10 last weekend.

The Centurions are one of two sides outside of the Super League to face a team from the top division in the fifth round of the Challenge Cup as they travel to Hull KR. The Lions travel to the Halton Stadium to face Widnes Vikings on Sunday 15th March in their tie.

MATCH STATS

Leigh have won their last fifteen meetings with Swinton in all competitions, the last time Swinton beat Leigh was a 18-14 win in the Northern Rail Cup at Hilton Park on 26th March 2006.

It’s been even longer since the Lions have beaten Leigh at home having lost their last 14 home meetings.

https://twitter.com/Swinton_Lions/status/1158649779292901376?s=20

However Littler will take a lot of encouragement from the last match between the sides as Leigh won by just one point in an exciting and tight game at the back end of last season, where Matty Ashton scored four tries.

Littler will desperately want to go one better this time out; end this barren run against the current league leaders and cause the biggest upset of the Championship season so far.

LAST 5 MEETINGS:

Leigh 31, Swinton 30 (ChR23, 4/8/10)

Swinton 12, Leigh 30 (ChR6, 10/3/19)

Leigh 54, Swinton 10 (CSR4, 9/9/18)

Leigh 50, Swinton 24 (ChR22, 22/7/18)

Swinton 10, Leigh 40 (ChR8, 30/3/18)

LEIGH & FEATHERSTONE TICKETS

Tickets will be available on the gate for the visit of Leigh Centurions at Heywood Road this Sunday, 3pm kick-off.

Adults: £18

Concessions: £15

Juniors: £2

Tickets for next weekend’s away trip to Featherstone Rovers will be available at the merchandise stall on Sunday. If you can’t make it to the game on Sunday, then tickets will be available during the rest of next week at the White Swan in Swinton. The Lions retain 20% from sales made so please consider buying through the club.

Adults: £20

Concessions: £15

Juniors: £5

Junior season ticket holders: FREE

TEAM NEWS

Three players join up with Lions in Mitch Clark, James McDonnell and Jake Shorrocks who replace Tayler Brown, Ben Heyes and Deane Meadows.

LIONS SQUAD TO FACE CENTURIONS: Gavin Bennion, Louis Brogan, Mike Butt, Mitch Clark, Mitch Cox, Rob Fairclough, Sam Grant, Frankie Halton, Jack Hansen, Lewis Hatton, Will Hope, Paddy Jones, Jose Kenga, Richard Lepori, Rhodri Lloyd, James McDonnell, Ben Morris, Jake Shorrocks, Oscar Thomas, Luke Waterworth, Brandon Wood.

CENTURIONS SQUAD TO FACE LIONS: Iain Thornley, Junior Sa’u, Adam Higson, Ben Reynolds, Jarrod Sammut, Nathan Mason, Liam Hood, Mark Ioane, Ben Hellewell, Danny Addy, Matty Wildie, Jordan Thompson, Josh Woods, Tom Spencer, Liam Forsyth, Craig Mullen, Callum Field, Cameron Scott, Lewis Bienek, Alex Gerrard, Ryan Shaw.

Written by Harry Dunnett

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