Last week the Lions scraped past Dewsbury, which hauled the Rams back into the Championship’s ‘Relegation Shit Fight’™. The result squeezed Swinton ahead - now 8 points to Hornets’ 6 - leaving Hornets no real choice other than to win on Sunday to maintain touching distance of the teams above.
The grey lining within the grey cloud that is the 2018 Championship season is that, having suffered three consecutive drubbings, Hornets points difference has been shot to blazes, so even a win will not be enough to lift us off the bottom of the table.
But 8 points would put us within a draw of Dewsbury in 10th and within two points of Sheffield (both of whom have far superior points differences).
Having come back from an early 10 point deficit, Swinton raced into a 12 point lead, but Hankinson’s red card opened the door for a late Dewsbury fightback. Ironic that it was his earlier drop goal that proved the difference in the end. Panto Villain George Tyson also weighed in with a brace of tries.
Once again, we come into an increasingly rare home game needing a big response on the back of a battering. The less said the better about last week’s disappointing showing at Post Office Road. We know they’re a decent side, but…
For the past month, this Sunday’s fixture has looked like the most likely win of a tough run-in, so we find ourselves - again - seeking a win at all costs ahead of Leigh, Toronto and Halifax. Jesus, just typing that makes me shake my head.
For us, this regular season - and this criminally imbalanced Championship - can’t end soon enough. Let’s get to the 8s where there are 14 points up for grabs in as good a shape as possible and set about salvaging the season from there.
With so much on the line, Sunday’s game should be an intense affair (especially if the last two Spotland encounters are anything to go by). Two of the game’s oldest local rivals going at it: it’s what Rugby league is all about. We’re banking on a bed-wetting thriller.
See you there.
