Championship: Halifax Panthers v Swinton Lions LIVE
We will bring you all the major updates from The Shay as Fax look to return to winning ways following successive defeats against Widnes Vikings and Sheffield Eagles. We will also have a match report and reaction from head coach Liam Finn after the final hooter.
Championship: Halifax Panthers v Swinton Lions LIVE
Swinton
The Lions, like Fax, have two wins to their names this season - each eye-catching results in their own right. Last week they put 50 points on Finn’s old team Dewsbury Rams. Earlier in the campaign they recorded a stunning victory at Toulouse. It will certainly be a test for the Panthers this afternoon.
The Table
Of course it’s still very early days in the Championship, but the table makes very interesting reading after only five rounds with Fax the lowest scorers in the league so far with just 66 points. They will be looking to change that stat today.
Last time
I’m sure all Fax fans will remember the last time these two sides met. It was the final game of the regular 2023 league campaign with the Panthers needing a win to seal their place in the end of season play-offs. But Swinton had other ideas as they silenced The Shay with an impressive 22-12 win which also secured their place in the Championship.
30 minutes away
We just 30 minutes away from kick off as fans start to take their place in the East and South stands.
New (former) recruit
There will be a warm welcome back to The Shay today for former player Ed Barber who has returned to his hometown club after coming out of retirement.
Fax come into the game after heavy defeats to Widnes and Sheffield. Here is what Liam Finn had to say to the Courier in the build-up to this contest:
Team News
And this how the Lions line up today:
Abram, Ritson, Vaughan, Hatton, Williams, Patton, Gibson, Green, Eaves, Wood, Foster, Cox, Hall
Interchanges: Hartill, Cooper, Spencer-Tonks, Badrock
How Fax line-up
There are plenty of changes to a Fax side which hasn’t scored a single point in three halves of rugby league. Louis Jouffret moves to full-back while James Woodburn-Hall moves to centre with Zach McComb moving to loose forward. Greg Eden comes back onto the wing, Joe Keyes joins Gareth Widdop in the halves from the start while Brandon Davies and Ed Barber are set for their second debuts from the bench.
Team News
This is how the Panthers line up today:
Halifax: Jouffret, Eden, Tibbs, Woodburn-Hall, Saltonstall, Widdop, Keyes, Larroyer, Inman, Tangata, Kavanagh, Gee, McComb
Interchanges: Fairbank, Lannon, Douglas, Barber