28 replies to this topic

[PhillH]

Half time York 6 - 10 Swinton

Lions lined up; R Hawkyard, Hurst, Armstrong, Reay, Mort; Ainscough, Watson; Mills, Smith, Morrison, Cunniffe, D Hawkyard, L'Anson.
Subs; Meekin, Holland, Ashall, Foxen.

Tries; R Hawkyard, Mort.

Another game potentially there for the taking!

[PhillH]

12-10 to York on 45mins, strong start to the 2nd half from York.

[PhillH]

12 - 16, quick reply from the Lions, Morrison try Mort conversion.

[PhillH]

"We score, you score."

18 - 16

Nip and tuck.

[PhillH]

24 - 16, deja vu!

[PhillH]

30 -16, time to concentrate on the league!! Not a good start to the season, sad to say.

[PhillH]

30-22, too little too late. 5 mins to go.

[PhillH]

All over 30-22 final score.

[Furryenzo]

Not a bad result really considering the fact its a thursday night ect. However the past two fixtures have really shown that us and dewsbury will be fighting against bottom place unless we seriously improve. Hunslet and York are two teams I fancied beating in the league. However as much as it is early days, it doesnt look likely.

[duffymoon]

Just back from York! a similar story to the Hunslet game in many respects,plenty of possession and good field position but not clinical enough to turn it into points when it mattered.We just seem to be lacking some creativity at this level,hopefully the two remaining northern rail games can now be used to try one or two new ideas and build some confidence for the forthcoming league campaign.Couldnt fault anyone for effort! a special mention for Ritchie Hawkyard who was outstanding and also Sam Reay.Darren Hawkyard as ever punched well above his weight.

[marshy1]

Just back from York! a similar story to the Hunslet game in many respects,plenty of possession and good field position but not clinical enough to turn it into points when it mattered.We just seem to be lacking some creativity at this level,hopefully the two remaining northern rail games can now be used to try one or two new ideas and build some confidence for the forthcoming league campaign.Couldnt fault anyone for effort! a special mention for Ritchie Hawkyard who was outstanding and also Sam Reay.Darren Hawkyard as ever punched well above his weight.

Agreed Dave.I think it's a bit early to start talking about us battling bottom place with Dewsbury in the league.It was always going to be much harder than last season and it's up to our players to take up the challenge and make the grade which I am sure they will.

I still think we need some punch up front aka Phil Joseph and also an injection of pace in the three quarters but despite the two NRC losses I am not unduly worried.

[Bryce]

I couldn't get there last night but from what I've heard it sounds like an improved performance after the Hunslet game. Steve Mac made the changes and gave some of the lads some much needed game-time. Let's face it, the same 13 couldn't play the 3 games in 9 days anyway. A lot of possession, and we managed to get over for 4 tries. Much improved penalty count as well! A bit too early to judge, but we can still qualify, 2 wins required at Barrow and at the LSV against Worky. Those games are more than winnable.

Richie Hawkyard playing himself into FB? Morty impressing on the wing? It could be a sign of things to come!

[PhillH]

Well done those who made the trip over last night.

Its looking likely that Featherstone, Halifax and Leigh will have it between them at the top, Batley are above average but not genuine title challengers and probably looking at 4th place, there isn't much between the other sides.

Two winnable games both lost to open the season proper is a real shame. The draw had presented a chance to keep the momentum going from last season's title win and build confidence the team can take the step up in its stride. Instead if you look at performances over the last 10 games or so, taking into account pre-season and the low-key end to 2011, the picture isn't that great.

Hopefully the impact of these 2 games on the coach and players will be to renew determination to make the grade at this level and do what's needed to make the marginal improvements needed to turn competitiveness into victories.

Noticeably there was no Kevin Penny in the side last night, no official line on the Swinton Lions website to confirm or deny if he will feature again, all very bizarre. The squad does have some cover if he has in the event moved on, but its all a bit strange nevertheless - Sale FC hardly being amongst Union's brightest lights.

And by the way, who can spot the common link between the following stories from cbsport and the club website: "Gorski set for York Comeback", "Andy Gorski's Battle for Fitness" (saying he'd play at Huntingdon Stadium on the original date) and "Andy Gorski Back in Frame for Swinton" (before the trip to Barrow)? Yes - the player in question didn't appear in any of the games previewed. Is this part of a cunning plan to lull the opposition into a false sense of security when the story appears for a fourth time?

[marshy1]

Talking to a couple of fans at the game last night who's son trains where the Lions have been and Penny was at training on Wednesday.Also one of the directors also said he was clueless as to the validity of this story,so i guess we read into that whatever we like. For me i'll wait to see if he plays again.

[Furryenzo]

I dont think KP not playing is any sort of sign that he is or is not at the club. Dodd also didnt play and the squad was vastly rotated, especially in the back line. The wing is arguably our most covered position and considering both wingers made mistakes in the last game (competition for places ect.) and the fact we needed to give players like r.hawkyard game time whos best position is full back, and our need for a good goal kicker (morty had to go in somewhere) I think the coming weeks will show us if KP is still with us. However from everything that has been heard and said on here my best guess would be that hes still at the club and this whole Sale FC thing is no more than his plans for close season. IMO its a bad move on his part to declare this at such an early stage, but time will tell.

Edited by Furryenzo, 24 February 2012 - 01:39 PM.

[wayne_r]

I think allowing for the fact that the team is still being sorted as a unit - while the defeats are a dissappointment to everyone - the team is not a million miles away from two teams that have been competing at the higher level for at least one season.........if we finish mid table this year surely that is a reasonable and attainable goal..........

[duffymoon]

In the two games weve played so far its been noticeable how quickly our opponents move the ball out wide.We look extremely vulnerable when this happens,its a tactic we should utilise as we have the players who could cause problems if they received the ball early enough.The long pass out wide is something that seems to be missing from Wattos game,it was something that Graham Holroyd possessed in his armoury and is badly missing from our gameplan at present.

[mark richardson]

In the two games weve played so far its been noticeable how quickly our opponents move the ball out wide.We look extremely vulnerable when this happens,its a tactic we should utilise as we have the players who could cause problems if they received the ball early enough.The long pass out wide is something that seems to be missing from Wattos game,it was something that Graham Holroyd possessed in his armoury and is badly missing from our gameplan at present.

We should use our three quarters more but I disagree that watto cant do it. Any praise for holroyd is misguided in my eyes. The biggest waster for a long time in swinton colours. In my opinion

[lionsfanusa]

We should use our three quarters more but I disagree that watto cant do it. Any praise for holroyd is misguided in my eyes. The biggest waster for a long time in swinton colours. In my opinion

I once sponsored the #6 shirt but was bounced 'coz Holroyd had his own sponsor. I saw him play twice and never saw him make a tackle. George Parkinson would have been disgusted!

[duffymoon]

I agree Holroyd didnt perform to the best of his ability at Swinton.However he did possess the ability to fire out a long pass something which Ian Watson doesnt seem to do as well.Just my opinion.