Thursday 21 January 2016

SUNDAY'S COMING: SWINTON LIONS

This Sunday Hornets make the short trip to Sedgely Park to take on newly promoted Swinton Lions.

Let it go: A lion in Swinton earlier today.
Having seen 17 players depart during the off-season, John Duffy has been busy recruiting for his side’s tilt at avoiding relegation. And he looks to have gone for perfunctory experience of life at a higher level.  The new signings are (deep breath): Anthony Nicholson from Batley, Greg Wilde from Whitehaven, Matt Bradley from the All Golds, Newcastle playmaker Matty Baharrell,  a triple whammy of Rams with Greg Scott, Kieran Hyde and Stephen Nash from Dewsbury, Rob Lever from Wigan, Wakefield born Corbyn Kilday rerturning from a stint with the Capras in the Queensland Cup, Saints prop Jordan Hand who saw dual-reg action  with Hornets, Sams Peet and Baggaley from Leigh, and Macauley Hallet (whose name sounds like a firm of solicitors), from Hull KR.

One interesting… er… twist is the absence of former Hornet Tony Suffolk, who signed for the Lions at the end of last term, but who appears to have baled for the other side of the world before donning a Swinton shirt in anger. Other ex-Hornets include ducking winger Shaun Robinson combative veteran threequarter Stuart Littler who has resumed his career as RL Panto Villain since returning to Swinton last year.

Having had their first friendly against Sheffield scuppered by the weather, Sunday is a first hit-out for the reshaped Lions, whose 2016 squad is:

1 Chris Atkin
2 Shaun Robinson
3 Stuart Littler
4 Macauley Hallett
5 Greg Scott
6 Ben White
7 Matty Beharrell
8 Mike Morrison (c)
9 Anthony Nicholson
10 Jordan Hand
11 Connor Dwyer
12 Andy Thornley
13 Rob Lever
14 Kieran Hyde
15 Corbyn Kilday
16 Ben Austin
17 Stephen Nash
18 Aaron Lloyd
19 Josh Barlow
20 Mike Butt
21 Matt Bradley
22 Harry Aaronson
23 Sam Peet
24 Greg Wilde
25 Sam Baggaley


The weather forecast for Sunday looks favourable - 11° and cloudy, so get yourself over to Sedgley Park. And don’t forget - it’s a 2pm kick-off: so don’t be late.