Match Thread; Championship Round 23, Swinton Lions v Featherstone Rovers, Sunday September 8th 2024

[The Phantom Horseman]

We're on the road again this week, and looking to extend our winning run to six, against a Swinton team who were no match for Wakefield last week but are desperate for points in their fight against relegation.

I did write up some post-game thoughts on the Barrow match thread but deleted tham as I decided they looked a bit contrary following what other people had written. I think the general view that it was a steady, workmanlike performance was about right, though, and it's perhaps not surprising that we have tended to produce some of our less-inspired performances against teams in the lower half of the table.

We face another of those teams this week, and indeed one that has already beaten us at our place this season. Our half backs that day were Addy and Eden whereas they had Dec Patton, so the line-ups will look very different this time (though when you lose 42-40 it's hard to put all the blame on your half backs!).

On paper we had a reasonably strong team out that day, but we are in better form now.

We'll be missing Wynne, who is suspended, but it sounds like Eden should be back and Bussey also returns from suspension. Perhaps there will be another chance for Maddox Jeffrey on the wing, and he did nothing wrong in his earlier outings. You'd imagine Bussey will resume at back row and Beckett will return to the middle, in which case one of our other middles (presumably between Kibula, Arnold or Jeffrey) might miss out.

You never know quite what to expect when facing lower-table teams, but Swinton are fighting for their Championship survival so we have to expect they will have a proper dig. Hopefully we can continue the winning run.

 

Edited September 4 by The Phantom Horseman

[The Phantom Horseman]

No bans for us from the Barrow game (not that they would have affected this game).
Sheffield's Alex Foster has been given a 3-match penalty notice which unless successfully challenged would mean he misses their game against us.

[The Phantom Horseman]

Squad named on the RFL website, looks like Connor Barley in for the suspended Connor Wynne is the only change to last week's 21- man squad.

[POR]

37 minutes ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Squad named on the RFL website, looks like Connor Barley in for the suspended Connor Wynne is the only change to last week's 21- man squad.

AND Jack Bussey for Caleb Aekins

[POR]

Here we go

[sentoffagain2]

       More difficult this week.Barley on dual reg we have a habit of playing them in some capacity although i would leave him out of the 17.Will he play full back leaving Eden and Gale on the wings.Out of that squad Bowes Harris and Kibula don't make the 17.And if the wingers are Gale and Eden i am afraid Jeffery would miss out.My team Eden Jeffrey Hardcastle Minikin Gale Reynolds Patton Locky Jones Nakabuawi Day Beckett Addy subs Bussey Springet Albert and Arnold.18th man Barley.I was looking forward to going but the daughter in law is competing in some strength events at Rotherham show.a month ago she came second in the Yorkshire strongest women event at Donny.

[Phil Briscoe]

10 minutes ago, sentoffagain2 said:

       More difficult this week.Barley on dual reg we have a habit of playing them in some capacity although i would leave him out of the 17.Will he play full back leaving Eden and Gale on the wings.Out of that squad Bowes Harris and Kibula don't make the 17.And if the wingers are Gale and Eden i am afraid Jeffery would miss out.My team Eden Jeffrey Hardcastle Minikin Gale Reynolds Patton Locky Jones Nakabuawi Day Beckett Addy subs Bussey Springet Albert and Arnold.18th man Barley.I was looking forward to going but the daughter in law is competing in some strength events at Rotherham show.a month ago she came second in the Yorkshire strongest women event at Donny.

Agree apart from Bowes. Wouldn’t you have two hookers in the 17 rather than 3 front rowers on the bench? 

[sentoffagain2]

1 minute ago, Phil Briscoe said:

Agree apart from Bowes. Wouldn’t you have two hookers in the 17 rather than 3 front rowers on the bench? 

 If so Bowes for Albert that would work fine by me.

[Featherstonerovers2000]

My starting team would be 

Eden,

Barley,minkin,Hardcastle,gale

patton,reynolds

nakumbwai,jones,beckett

day,bussey

addy

subs

bowes,springer,lockwood,arnold

albert,kibula,Harris,jeffery to miss out 

 

[Phil Briscoe]

1 hour ago, sentoffagain2 said:

 If so Bowes for Albert that would work fine by me.

Agreed thought Albert offered the least off the bench last week. He’s a big guy but never seems to get a head of steam up. 

[The Phantom Horseman]

No Reynolds or Gale today. The latter explains the inclusion of Barley, he and Jeffrey replacing our regular wings. I thought Gale still looked less than 100% last week and got up very feelingly after the final tackle.

[haskey]

could not make the game today and have just seen the score 28-8 Sounds like an unholy mess ?

[Fevrover]

5 minutes ago, haskey said:

could not make the game today and have just seen the score 28-8 Sounds like an unholy mess ?

Shows how we miss Reynolds, sounds like a lot of dropped balls on commentary.

[Featherstonerovers2000]

Too many changers, barley not winger and no plan B just trying to do same stuff for 80 mins and not working need a big week this week for Sheffield this weekend as we now fall to 7 in league 

[Cas rover]

3 minutes ago, Fevrover said:

Shows how we miss Reynolds, sounds like a lot of dropped balls on commentary.

Catalogue of errors , dropped ball, poor defence, short of ideas. When was the last time Swinton did the double on us ?

 

[sentoffagain2]

   Just shows what a difference Reynolds makes.I thought this game might be the one we lose.We drop to loint 6/7th with Sheffield  with believe it or not the exact same points difference.I had us losing 1 and getting into the 6 although the 4th position i predicted will be under threat if we lose another game.Imperative we beat Sheffield next week and we should manage to beat Dewsbury.Then it's our Cup Final away to a much improved York.Todays score is worrying although i knew Swinton would be difficult given the position they are in.Daughter in law was 2nd again in Man Beast strongest woman Yorkshire.She had the same points as the winner but was placed 2nd.

[Fevrover]

4 minutes ago, Cas rover said:

Catalogue of errors , dropped ball, poor defence, short of ideas. When was the last time Swinton did the double on us ?

 

I said that,must be some years ago,it'll be on one of them blogs that tells us everything Fev.

[Fevrover]

1 minute ago, sentoffagain2 said:

   Just shows what a difference Reynolds makes.I thought this game might be the one we lose.We drop to loint 6/7th with Sheffield  with believe it or not the exact same points difference.I had us losing 1 and getting into the 6 although the 4th position i predicted will be under threat if we lose another game.Imperative we beat Sheffield next week and we should manage to beat Dewsbury.Then it's our Cup Final away to a much improved York.Todays score is worrying although i knew Swinton would be difficult given the position they are in.Daughter in law was 2nd again in Man Beast strongest woman Yorkshire.She had the same points as the winner but was placed 2nd.

Good on her . I wonder what was up with Reynolds, hope it's not long term. Or gone back to Hull/ Kr lol.

[Fevrover]

21 minutes ago, Cas rover said:

Catalogue of errors , dropped ball, poor defence, short of ideas. When was the last time Swinton did the double on us ?

 

1963, but played them 3 times in 1998 and lost twice away. 

[Cas rover]

11 minutes ago, Fevrover said:

1963, but played them 3 times in 1998 and lost twice away. 

Thanks for the reply, thought it may be the 1960's.

[Normy_Rover]

We we're miles off of today, Swinton had more desire and heart. After the last 4 week's heroics this is such a deflating defeat.  I think the team thought this was a cut and dried result, Swinton quite rightly thought differently. Onwards and upwards.

 

 

[RobLambert]

As well as the fact that Swinton have done the double they've managed to score 70 points in those 2 games.  Barring a freak hammering in one of the last 3 games that will be more than any team has scored against us in the league (Very nearly more than Wakey could muster in 3 attempts).  Ridiculous.

 

[sentoffagain2]

30 minutes ago, RobLambert said:

As well as the fact that Swinton have done the double they've managed to score 70 points in those 2 games.  Barring a freak hammering in one of the last 3 games that will be more than any team has scored against us in the league (Very nearly more than Wakey could muster in 3 attempts).  Ridiculous.

 

 I agree it looks way out of tilt.But Swinton play with pace and give the ball some air.They must be very fit also because in the games against us they have had more energy .Today was for Swinton like our game with Sheffield will be next week.It lifted them out of the bottom two.And if we lose next week i fear we will not make the play offs.

[RobLambert]

41 minutes ago, sentoffagain2 said:

 I agree it looks way out of tilt.But Swinton play with pace and give the ball some air.They must be very fit also because in the games against us they have had more energy .Today was for Swinton like our game with Sheffield will be next week.It lifted them out of the bottom two.And if we lose next week i fear we will not make the play offs.

Possibly.  There are so many ifs and buts though.  I think it would take a lot of results going against us to not finish in the 6 if we win 2 out of the 3.

[haskey]

Yes Rob BUT we have got to win these 2 out of 3