25 replies to this topic

[RIGGY]

Here are the Lions Squad numbers for the 2011 season :-

1. Richie HAWKYARD
2. Rob FOXEN
3. Gavin DODD
4. Dean THOMPSON
5. Sam REAY
6. Martin AINSCOUGH
7. Ian WATSON
8. Mike MORRISON
9. Mark SMITH
10. Dana WILSON
11. Dale CUNNIFFE
12. Lee WINGFIELD ---- (CAPTAIN)
13. Phil JOSEPH
14. Tommy GALLAGHER
15. Darren HAWKYARD
16. Neil HOLLAND
17. Carl FORBER
18. Andy AINSCOUGH
19. Neil RIGBY
20. Richard FLOOKS
21. Ian MORT
22. Adam RYDER
23. Alex HURST
24. Barry HAMILTON
25. Karl ASHALL
26. Joe FITZPATRICK
27. Bruce JOHNSON
28. Carl SNEYD

Cheers

Riggy

[PhillH]

Its one "helluva" strong squad for Championship One level, when Tommy Gallagher cannot get a shirt in the starting 13!

[mark richardson]

What a fantastic looking squad. BUT despite all the great signings my favourite I think this year is going to be BIG JOE.

[marshy1]

What a fantastic looking squad. BUT despite all the great signings my favourite I think this year is going to be BIG JOE.

I agree there Mark.

The fact he has been retained by SM proves they must think highly of him.

[marshy094]

The squad is looking very promising for the new year, if SM can get them to gel together well, then theres no reason why we cant achieve in the new season

[marshy1]

The squad is looking very promising for the new year, if SM can get them to gel together well, then theres no reason why we cant achieve in the new season

For a fleeting moment then I thought Altzheimers had kicked in as I didn't remember writing this post.

Welcome to marshy094 and i assume we are not related?

[marshy094]

no your not quite that old just yet, tho pushing it, and it would appear that we are related

[marshy1]

no your not quite that old just yet, tho pushing it, and it would appear that we are related

Seems to me a certain son of mine has got a wee bit to lippy!!!!

I'm sure you need to be 18yrs old to be on here.

[marshy094]

Seems to me a certain son of mine has got a wee bit to lippy!!!!

I'm sure you need to be 18yrs old to be on here.

No where in the T&C's does it say i have to be 18, that i can see , anyway back to the rugby talk as this is what this forum is for....

[m brooksy]

You'll be in the top three but lack that bit of star quality to win the league, especially in the backs.

[duffymoon]

You'll be in the top three but lack that bit of star quality to win the league, especially in the backs.

Who will the top two be?

[m brooksy]

In my opinion it would be Rochdale and Workington (I won't predict where Oldham are going to finish,i'm too biased). Rochdale have one of the best coaches outside of Super League and have kept the nucleas of their side from last year and made significant improvement in the pack. Workington also seems to flatter to deceive but I think they will kick on this year.

Swinton could obviously win the league as you have built up a formidable squad but in my opinion there are better teams out there.

[Bryce]

In my opinion it would be Rochdale and Workington (I won't predict where Oldham are going to finish,i'm too biased). Rochdale have one of the best coaches outside of Super League and have kept the nucleas of their side from last year and made significant improvement in the pack. Workington also seems to flatter to deceive but I think they will kick on this year.

Swinton could obviously win the league as you have built up a formidable squad but in my opinion there are better teams out there.

I think one of the "better teams" out there could be Oldham. Always in the mix and have a top squad again this season.
We need this squad to gel unlike previous seasons where we've had a brilliant squad on paper. We need to actually deliver this season, once again I go into another season in Champ 1 filled with confidence...I really hope this lasts!!!

Would love to see us in the top 3 (hopefully along with Oldham and Rochdale), this season should make for some really good derby matches in the North West!!!

[HaroldShand]

On paper, Swinton should absolutely walk Championship 1. You've had squads with similarly strong ability in recent times which for some reason never seemed to deliver. Now that you have a coach who knows what he's doing (as opposed to one who doesn't ) and who has coached with succes at a higher level, I fully expect you to finish in top spot.
Workington to finish in second position.

[chiefgeneral]

As an Oldham fan I think you'll walk it. I think we're going to struggle to finish top 5 in honesty. We only have two halfbacks at present (one being un-tried at this level)

[m brooksy]

We'll be in the top five comfortably Chief.

Rochdale,Workington,Swinton,Keighley and Oldham will be the top five with Doncaster slightly improving into the play offs whilst South Wales will regress with a new coach and less duel registered players. Whitehaven are unknown but seem to be relying heavily on youth and whilst they will be tough to beat at home I can see them having a major struggle with Donny to get into the paly offs. London and Gateshead will be propping up the table again.

Keighley will be good but will struggle losing their coach at such a late date and losing two quality players at this level in Jones and Pressley.

[PhillH]

Interesting that everyone seems to be writing off Whitehaven. I'd be surprised if they aren't in the top 3 personally, as there is a big gulf in standards between the Championship and Championship One and last season was badly out of character for them after several cammpaigns challenging towards the top. Nobody else at this level has anywhere near the pace of Craig Calvert; I fully expect him to get a hatfull of tries.

Barry Eaton leaving Keighley is going to be a massive blow to them.

The only possible weak area in the Swinton Lions squad in my view is centre, where I think Dean Thompson and/or Adam Ryder need to come good. All other positions have a degree of strength in depth and a mix of youth and experience. Lots of talent there, allied to a coach that ought to be able to bring the basics of fitness, discipline, team work, application and will to win - without which the talent is worthless as previous seasons have shown.

The opening set of 4 games against Barrow, Salford, Halifax and Leigh is going to be a very stern test. It will be important for the side to grit its teeth a bit and get as competitive as possible in these 4 games, rather than writing them off and throwing in the towel, as a defeatist attitude will give a lack of momentum going into the league campaign. The low number of fixtures makes it essential to start well. To be top 3 you can only lose about 4 league games.

I wish Rochdale well, they have got the league's best full back and probably 2nd best hooker and they both ought to still be Swinton players.

[Shizonamy]

Now that the squad is finalised does anyone know if the website is going to be fully updated to show all the profiles, pictures were taken at the race night so whoever is maintaining it can we have it updated at least before the Northern Rail Cup.

[Chairman LMAO]

Here are the Lions Squad numbers for the 2011 season :-

1. Richie HAWKYARD
2. Rob FOXEN
3. Gavin DODD
4. Dean THOMPSON
5. Sam REAY
6. Martin AINSCOUGH
7. Ian WATSON
8. Mike MORRISON
9. Mark SMITH
10. Dana WILSON
11. Dale CUNNIFFE
12. Lee WINGFIELD ---- (CAPTAIN)
13. Phil JOSEPH
14. Tommy GALLAGHER
15. Darren HAWKYARD
16. Neil HOLLAND
17. Carl FORBER
18. Andy AINSCOUGH
19. Neil RIGBY
20. Richard FLOOKS
21. Ian MORT
22. Adam RYDER
23. Alex HURST
24. Barry HAMILTON
25. Karl ASHALL
26. Joe FITZPATRICK
27. Bruce JOHNSON
28. Carl SNEYD

Cheers

Riggy

Must admit, looks like you might be the team to beat in CC1 this year!

[Keith T]

PhilH, don't forget that Haven have lost a number of players from last season including their star man, Graham Mattinson, and their top prop, Marc Jackson, to Town and on top of that they start on minus 9 points. I still think their young squad could make the play-offs though.