Co-operative Championship preview

Thursday May 17

Co-operative Championship

Keighley Cougars v Swinton Lions (Premier Sports, 7.30pm)

Keighley Cougars coach Jason Demetriou welcomes back four first-team players into his squad for Thursday’s televised Co-operative Championship fixture with Swinton Lions.

Paul March, Brendan Rawlins, Danny Lawton and Andy Shickell are all set to return from injury and face the Lions.

However, Demetriou has so far been unsuccessful in his attempts to add to his squad with a new signing.
He said: “We’re still trying, but it’s up in the air at the moment. Hopefully we’ll know something over the next few days.”

Cougars were without a fixture last week, but Demetriou has done his best to counter a lack of match practice.

He said: “It’s been a bit disruptive over the last couple of weeks. We’ve only had one game in three weeks and that’s upset our rhythm, but we trained on Sunday and hopefully we’ll be well prepared for this match.

“Swinton are a good side. Like us they were always going to take some time to get going, but they’ve got some good signings and they attack really well, with Ian Watson still pulling the strings for them.”

In form Swinton are searching for their third successive league win, following recent victories over Hunslet and York.

But coach Steve McCormack is set to be missing Carl Forster (quad) and Ian Mort.