Swinton new boys set for debuts

Swinton new boys Tom Armstrong, Kevin Penny, David Mills, Adam Higson and Chaz I’Anson will make their debuts against Widnes at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday (3pm).

The Lions trained at their new home ground for the first time on Thursday night and coach Steve McCormack said: “We have to make it our home very quickly.

“We did that at the Willows last season and home form is very important no matter what division you play in.

“The facilities are first class and the people at Leigh couldn’t be more helpful.

“A lot of the players have played here before and we got a taste of it last season in the Northern Rail Cup.”

Dale Cunniffe will miss the match through a suspension picked up in the final game of last season against Rochdale and the starting 13 is as follows:

Richie Hawkyard, Dodd, Hurst, Armstrong, Penny, Ainscough, Watson, Mills, Smith, Morrison, Higson, Darren Hawkyard, Wingfield.

The substitutes will be chosen from the remainder of the squad.

McCormack added:

“Our sport is one where you can’t take it easy so we are expecting a full-strength Widnes team,” he said.

“They are pretty excited about starting in Super League in the next four or five weeks and they will be going full belt.

“They had a good run out against Warrington the other day.

“It’s quite a new team Denis Betts has put together and they are not going to take it easy on us because it’s a friendly and because we are a championship club.

“They will come all guns blazing at us.”