Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 1:48 pm  

Can I ask a dumb question?

Why are Swinton playing at Widnes?

Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 3:25 pm  

debaser wrote:

Can I ask a dumb question?

Why are Swinton playing at Widnes?

Because their ground isn't currently fit for purpose. It doesn't hold enough people for Championship rules.

And they've had problems trying to get up a temporary stand to make it fit, with some form of bother with the council.

Quote from a statement they gave:

Swinton supporters will be aware of the ongoing difficulties that we have experienced with Bury Council regarding our planning application for a temporary stand at Sedgley Park. The RFL has strict minimum standards conditions for clubs entering the Championship, the most significant being a minimum requirement for 750 seats. This condition is being rigorously enforced by the RFL and therefore without the requisite seating we are simply not allowed to play at Sedgley Park, regardless of the expected attendance.

It is now clear that these planning issues with Bury Council will not be resolved in time for our home fixture with Bradford Bulls, which was originally scheduled for Sunday 21 February. We continue to co-operate with Bury Council, but we are increasingly pessimistic regarding time-scales for season 2016 even if our application is ultimately successful.

We have therefore been actively investigating contingency plans, but unfortunately our preferred venue (the AJ Bell Stadium) is not an available option on the weekend of 20/21 February. The reversal of our fixtures with Bradford was also considered, but unfortunately had to be ruled out because of arrangements Bradford already have in place with their sponsors. In fact Bradford have been very supportive of our predicament and we’d like thank Marc Green and Steve Ferres for their kind co-operation.

A number of venues have been considered and visited, and we can now reveal that our home fixture versus Bradford Bulls will take place at the Select Security Stadium, Widnes, on Saturday 20 February 2016, kick-off 7.00pm. Lions fans will of course associate the ground with the scene of our dramatic triumph in last October’s play-off final victory over Keighley.

We totally empathise with the frustration of our supporters that this announcement will inevitably cause, but we ask that you stand by the team and the club during this difficult transitional period. In some ways we are the victims of our own success, but in staging this fixture at Widnes (and on the date and time stated) we have simply had no choice. In fact Widnes RLFC have worked tremendously hard to accommodate us and we are thankful to them for their kind hospitality.

Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 3:30 pm  

Thank you for that. Bit of a pain for Swinton fans. It's not just round the corner is it?

Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 3:43 pm  

debaser wrote:

Thank you for that. Bit of a pain for Swinton fans. It's not just round the corner is it?

Crap for them, I agree. They played their first game at Salford as that's a lot closer, but as the statement says, it wasn't available this weekend. So until they sort things out with the council, they're having to live like nomads and turn up wherever someone will have them.

[Bulliac]

Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 4:00 pm  

The 19-man squad for the game:

22. James Clare – sponsored by Captain Hornblower, Papa Holmes and the Hornettes
14. Jay Pitts – sponsored by John Fountain
3. Adrian Purtell – sponsored by Brian Widdop
34. Richie Mathers – sponsored by O’Haras Limited
35. Rhys Lovegrove
4. Kris Welham – sponsored by Stuart Readyhough at Maclean and Company
6. Lee Gaskell – sponsored by Hudson Foster Financial Services
9. Adam O’Brien – sponsored by The Monro Family
10. Adam Sidlow – sponsored by Gareth and Ruth Rider
2. Omari Caro – sponsored by Jennifer Bennison
20. Mitch Clark – sponsored by Bradford Bulls Supporters Group
15. Matty Blythe – sponsored by Smith Harrison Sampling
13. Danny Addy – sponsored by Bear Boating Canal Boat Holidays
11. Tom Olbison – sponsored by C and K Wood
23. Alex Mellor – sponsored by The Top House
28. Kurt Haggerty – sponsored by Alexis Ridler
12. Dale Ferguson – sponsored In Memory of Helen Butterworth
30. Joe Lumb – sponsored by The Red Amber and Black Forum
1. Oscar Thomas – sponsored by The Pitchside Crew

Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 7:01 pm  

I'd be tempted to have a bit of a shuffle around this week and give some of the fringe players a start...

1. Oscar Thomas
22. James Clare
3. Adrian Purtell
4. Kris Welham
2. Omari Caro
6. Lee Gaskell
13. Danny Addy
35. Rhys Lovegrove
9. Adam O’Brien
10. Adam Sidlow
15. Matty Blythe
23. Alex Mellor
14. Jay Pitts

30. Joe Lumb
20. Mitch Clark
11. Tom Olbison
28. Kurt Haggerty

Lumb on bench to give OB a breather.

Rest Mathers and Fergy for next week against Leigh.

Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 7:04 pm  

By the look of him, Mathers needs exercise a lot more than he needs rest.

Mind you, I have actually been impressed with what he's done when he's played, he still looks very good for this league. Might turn out to have been a very canny signing, that.

Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 7:42 pm  

I'd start Mathers as he clearly needs to get up to match speed, but I'd have Thomas on the bench and spell Mathers rather than shift him to the wing as it means Thomas gets some game time as the more game time the whole team gets the better as it is going forward

Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 7:51 pm  

I would give Gaskell a day off and play Thomas on that plastic pitch. Putell can then switch to SO and move Thomas to FB when Mathers starts to drag his feet. We should be OK to deal with Swinton and still give one or two fringe players a run out otherwise they never get a game and all of a sudden it is the middle eights again. This must be the game to do it.

Re: Swinton (A) : Thu Feb 18, 2016 7:54 pm  

It's game three with Leigh the week after. I wouldn't be resting anyone. Let them rattle the rust out of their systems.