Swinton searching for first points

Mark Smith reckons Batley on Sunday is as good a time as any for Swinton to pick up their first points in the Championship.

The promoted Lions have lost their first two outings against Sheffield and Dewsbury but former Wigan and Widnes hooker Smith believes his team-mates are not far away from putting some points on the board.

“The lads are learning and improving week after week, and we’ve got a win coming just around the corner,” he said ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Bulldogs at Leigh Sports Village (2pm).

The game is the first of three tough encounters with Batley followed by Leigh and Featherstone. Smith said: “When you look at our next three games they are massive but we have got to look at picking up points sooner rather than later if we want to start pushing for the play-offs.

“We are very positive and in all the games, bar the Sheffield game where we conceded a lot of points, we’ve had a lot of footage and we’re playing some good football when we have got the ball.

“We are just struggling defending back-to-back sets for whatever reason. We are working on it and I think it will come.

“I don’t think anyone expected miracles but we do expect more of ourselves.”

New signing Dave McConnell will come into the reckoning while Chas I’Anson, Martin Ainscough and Alex Hurst all hope to be fit after picking up minor knocks in the win against Siddal in the Challenge Cup last week.