Big month ahead for the Championship’s bottom club

James Gordon

Winless Swinton have a big month ahead as they look to move off the foot of the Championship table at the Summer Bash.

The Lions were denied their first victory of the season on Sunday as Barrow kicked a penalty on the hooter to pinch a 22-all draw, the second time the two sides have drawn this season.

Those are the only two points that Swinton have mustered in 2018, leaving them two points adrift of Rochdale and four behind Sheffield.

But they go head to head with Rochdale at the Summer Bash in Blackpool on Sunday, where a win of 20 points or more will lift them off the bottom.

Coach Stuart Littler said: “It’s a big month.

“We’ve played Barrow, we’ve now got Rochdale two weeks on the bounce and then Sheffield, but we can’t afford to look past whoever’s next.

“We need two points and we’ve got to do whatever it takes to get those two points.

“When we stick to the game plan and the structures we’re meant to, we’re an exciting team but getting that consistency is what we’re striving for.

“The game’s are coming thick and fast and these next few games are massive for the club.”

Rewind 12 months ago, and the Lions were heading towards somewhat of a crisis where the future of the club was at stake.

They finished the regular season with six wins, and mustered another two during the Championship Shield to survive relegation.

The club has made strides forward off the pitch this season and enjoyed a bumper crowd when opening the doors for free against Toulouse recently.