Kidd calls for Swinton backing

Paul Kidd is calling on the Swinton public to come out and support the Lions.

The club’s director of rugby was pleased with the turn-out of 916 for Friday night’s 28-22 defeat to Grand Final winners Halifax at the Willows but wants to break the 1000 barrier for the next home game against Oldham on Sunday week.

“It was an encouraging turn-out and there was a very good atmosphere in the ground,” he said.

“We’ve shown against a Grand Final side that we can compete on the field but we now need a bit of backing from the town.
“I was pleased with the crowd but we need to improve on that.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to build on that crowd and to get people behind us.”

Swinton are playing their home games at the Willows for the first time in 70 years and Friday’s attendance was almost double last season’s average at Sedgley Park.

They have put together a strong team in Championship One as they build towards moving into a ground of their own and want to build up their support.

Coach Steve McCormack said: “Anybody who came to the Halifax game will have gone home really encouraged by what they have seen.

“The crowd was brilliant and the Willows is a good place to play. I wasn’t just proud of the players I was proud of the support as well.

“We are just dead disappointed with the result and that’s a measure of our ambition. “We came close to beating the Grand Final winners and are disappointed – and that’s a reflection of where we want to be this season.”

Swinton have lost the services of Andy Ainscough and Carl Sneyd.

Kidd explained: “Andy was on loan to us last season from Leigh and signed up this season but he has joined the Marines and we wish him well.

“Carl had bad luck with injuries last season and he’s taking time out to get his fitness and confidence back.”