On the kick time and day - do people think the traditional Sun afternoon is still the way to go?

I do prefer the Saturday tea time kick offs

Depends if you take into account away support.

Tea Time / Evening kick offs can be off putting to away fans because of getting home late, especially if the opposition are a bit of a distance away.

Personally I like home games being on Friday nights, but I would expect families and away fans would prefer Sunday afternoon.

It's all about routine. Back in the day, it invariably was what it was, and so the match day and time was part of fans' ingrained routine. The more you mess around with exceptions, the more you disturb the routine, and if a fan misses one game because of the change of K.O., and realizes they survived, and the world didn't end, I think it increases the likelihood that they might miss future games.

Overall I'm sure Sunday 3pm suits more than it doesn't, and of course if you want to attract young kids then night games are a poor choice. Successive administrations (

)have largely kept Sun. 3pm as the standard K.O. and so I'm assuming the stats back that up as the best chance of a maximised return.

How come Swinton's forum remains in Championship 1? I mean, I don't think anyone uses it - but maybe they just think it doesn't exist?

I know of a few people who, with the kick off being so late, decided to stay over nearby. Perhaps that's what they're going for. With all the naff weather up there recently I'm sure the local businesses (B&B's, pubs etc) could do with the extra trade. I see what you mean though, on the other side it will have put some other people off.

honest, the fact that we get absolutely no Friday night games in the championship almost makes me want to stay here.....

Warnings of travel chaos getting to Widnes - if you haven't seen it, this is from the Bulls website

It looked like we were gonna have a front row forward crisis until Clark returned - Kavanagh and Clough being sat out for a while should give plenty of game time for our backup front rowers, but it seems Jimmy rates the likes of Clark and Walker higher than Lauaki. I wouldn't expect to see Lauaki too often this season as a result.

Just posted this on Trust In Widnes for a Swinton fan so though I would share it here as well.

The road works are between the roundabout by McDonalds and the bridge for those that know the area, not too bad coming from your direction, best way to avoid all the roadworks is:

Come off at J7 on the M62,
Take the first exit sign posted A57 Warrington,
Turn right at the first set of lights, follow the road to the end,
Turn right at those lights then first exit at the roundabout takes you onto Birchfield Road, (where the train station is),
As you pass Wade Deacon school on your right take the next right, Highfield Road,
Straight through the lights by the Albion pub and you're there.

Hope that helps and have a safe journey.

Thank you Horses mouth- this will certainly help.

Can I ask a dumb question?

Why are Swinton playing at Widnes?

Because their ground isn't currently fit for purpose. It doesn't hold enough people for Championship rules.

And they've had problems trying to get up a temporary stand to make it fit, with some form of bother with the council.

Quote from a statement they gave:

Thank you for that. Bit of a pain for Swinton fans. It's not just round the corner is it?

Crap for them, I agree. They played their first game at Salford as that's a lot closer, but as the statement says, it wasn't available this weekend. So until they sort things out with the council, they're having to live like nomads and turn up wherever someone will have them.

The 19-man squad for the game:

22. James Clare – sponsored by Captain Hornblower, Papa Holmes and the Hornettes
14. Jay Pitts – sponsored by John Fountain
3. Adrian Purtell – sponsored by Brian Widdop
34. Richie Mathers – sponsored by O’Haras Limited
35. Rhys Lovegrove
4. Kris Welham – sponsored by Stuart Readyhough at Maclean and Company
6. Lee Gaskell – sponsored by Hudson Foster Financial Services
9. Adam O’Brien – sponsored by The Monro Family
10. Adam Sidlow – sponsored by Gareth and Ruth Rider
2. Omari Caro – sponsored by Jennifer Bennison
20. Mitch Clark – sponsored by Bradford Bulls Supporters Group
15. Matty Blythe – sponsored by Smith Harrison Sampling
13. Danny Addy – sponsored by Bear Boating Canal Boat Holidays
11. Tom Olbison – sponsored by C and K Wood
23. Alex Mellor – sponsored by The Top House
28. Kurt Haggerty – sponsored by Alexis Ridler
12. Dale Ferguson – sponsored In Memory of Helen Butterworth
30. Joe Lumb – sponsored by The Red Amber and Black Forum
1. Oscar Thomas – sponsored by The Pitchside Crew

I'd be tempted to have a bit of a shuffle around this week and give some of the fringe players a start...

1. Oscar Thomas
22. James Clare
3. Adrian Purtell
4. Kris Welham
2. Omari Caro
6. Lee Gaskell
13. Danny Addy
35. Rhys Lovegrove
9. Adam O’Brien
10. Adam Sidlow
15. Matty Blythe
23. Alex Mellor
14. Jay Pitts

30. Joe Lumb
20. Mitch Clark
11. Tom Olbison
28. Kurt Haggerty

Lumb on bench to give OB a breather.

Rest Mathers and Fergy for next week against Leigh.

By the look of him, Mathers needs exercise a lot more than he needs rest.

Mind you, I have actually been impressed with what he's done when he's played, he still looks very good for this league. Might turn out to have been a very canny signing, that.

I'd start Mathers as he clearly needs to get up to match speed, but I'd have Thomas on the bench and spell Mathers rather than shift him to the wing as it means Thomas gets some game time as the more game time the whole team gets the better as it is going forward

I would give Gaskell a day off and play Thomas on that plastic pitch. Putell can then switch to SO and move Thomas to FB when Mathers starts to drag his feet. We should be OK to deal with Swinton and still give one or two fringe players a run out otherwise they never get a game and all of a sudden it is the middle eights again. This must be the game to do it.

It's game three with Leigh the week after. I wouldn't be resting anyone. Let them rattle the rust out of their systems.

I have to agree with you, sir.

So Blythe in centre instead of Purtell?

I would like to see Thomas given a full run out and hopefully jimmy will spell Lumb... I won't hold my breathe for either though!

Yeah, I agree with that. I've criticised the non-rotations as much as anyone, but we've only played two games so, unless there are any bad knocks or strains, I'd go with pretty much the same again at this stage.

Plus, we really need to beat Leigh. It would make our season a whole lot easier if we did, and a whole lot harder if we didn't.