Swinton Lions will contest the first rugby league silverware of the season this coming Saturday, 23rd May, when they take on North Wales Crusaders in the final of the iPro Sport League 1 Cup, at Bloomfield Road, home to Blackpool Football Club.
The road to the final has seen Swinton dispatch Hemel Stags, Keighley Cougars and Newcastle Thunder. The Crusaders beat West Hull, Rochdale Hornets and Oldham en route to Blackpool.
The clubs are locked on the same number of points in the league table and have already shared a hard fought and edgy 14-14 draw in the league earlier this season, where tempers boiled over a number of times. A close and competitive match is expected, with the Crusaders being the slight favourites at the bookies on the basis of having a slightly better defence than the Lions so far this season.
Although a one off final, both teams will see the game as an opportunity build confidence for the rest of the season as they want to mount a serious challenge for promotion to the Kingstone Press Championship. It's fair to say that no player will be taking a backward step.
The Crusaders most recognisable players will be no strangers to rugby fans in the city. They are led by former Great Britain international, Stephen Wild, who also played for Wigan Warriors and captained Salford Red Devils. Stuart Reardon is another former Great Britain international playing for the Crusaders. Stuart spent time at the Salford Red Devils at the beginning of his career, as well as playing for the Bradford Bulls and Warrington Wolves.
The Lions boast a team made up of local players, with three names recognisable to non-Swinton fans. They are the evergreen Irish international Stuart Littler, who played over 300 games for the Salford Red Devils, and will go down as one of the most competitive and loved centres in the Devils' history. Welsh international Jordan James is an ex-Royal Marine and Iraq veteran, who has played for Castleford, Wigan and Salford amongst others in a glittering career. He'll be making the hard yards playing in the pack and adds steel and experience to the Lions. The final player is Matt Gardner, a winger who has a wealth of experience having played for Huddersfield, Salford Red Devils, Widnes, Harlequins and Leigh.
You may ask `Why is the Cup Final taking place in Blackpool?' The simple answer is that it is but one of the games that make up a festival of rugby league called the Summer Bash. Akin to the Super League's Magic Weekend, the Summer Bash has a full round of six Kingstone Press Championship matches and the iPro Sport League 1 Cup Final taking place.
Games are split over the Bank Holiday Weekend on Saturday and Sunday 23rd and 24th May, with Swinton's game opening the fun at 12pm on Saturday 23rd May. Also playing on the day are three mouth watering Championship matches, Workington v Whitehaven and London Broncos v Sheffield Eagles, with Bradford Bulls v Halifax rounding off what will be an exciting day of rugby.
Sunday's games see Dewsbury Rams v Batley Bulldogs and Doncaster v Hunslet Hawks, with the unbeaten Championship leaders Leigh Centurions bringing the curtain down on an excellent weekend against Featherstone Rovers.
Tickets are exceptional value with full weekend tickets £15 for concessions and £30 for adults, or day tickets for either Saturday or Sunday £10 concessions and £20 for adults. Where else could you get a full day's family entertainment at these prices?
Swinton Lions are also running transport to and from Blackpool which costs £10 per head. On the evening of the final there will be a club party, hopefully celebrating with the cup, at the Swinton British Legion, 3 Cheetham Rd, Swinton, Manchester M27 4UQ. Everyone is welcome, admission is free and doors open at 7:30pm.
Full List of Fixtures
SATURDAY 23RD MAY
IPRO SPORT CUP FINAL
NORTH WALES CRUSADERS v SWINTON LIONS 12noon
KINGSTONE PRESS SUMMER BASH
WORKINGTON TOWN v WHITEHAVEN RLFC 2.30pm
LONDON BRONCOS v SHEFFIELD EAGLES 4.45pm
BRADFORD BULLS v HALIFAX RLFC 7pm
SUNDAY 24TH MAY
KINGSTONE PRESS SUMMER BASH
DEWSBURY RAMS v BATLEY BULLDOGS 12.45pm
DONCASTER RLFC v HUNSLET HAWKS 3.00pm
LEIGH CENTURIONS v FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 5.15pm
Ticket Prices:
Full Weekend: Concessions £15 Adults £30
Day Ticket: Concessions £10 Adults £20
Tickets available from
Swinton Lions Club Office, 105 - 107 Chorley Road Swinton M27 6AZ 10am - 4pm
Or via http://www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk/summer_bash.
Transport Saturday 23rd May
£10 contact abbi.roddy@swintonlionsrlfc.com
Words and photos of Lions v Crusaders earlier this season by Gareth Lyons
• There will be a full feature on Swinton Lions in the printed issue of Salford Star – out this week.
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