We shouldn't see Mr Hicks again soon. Apparently, he's gone full time and will be reffing superleague games this year.

What a good entertaining game that was tonight.
It looks like fax are on for another slow start to the season again.

TBH i thought in the end you were lucky to win, swinton dropped a lot of ball in the first half and they more than held there own in the second half so well done fax for a hard earned win.
Also i thought black and worrency looked good tonight.

didnt go but wet muddy windy playing conditions are not what Fax are about. . think we prefer a firm surface but a wins a win

anyone know attendance?

and if we finish like last season it will do me fine. Plus we have Nash, Goddard (when fit), Ostick, Cherryholme, Watene , Larder and Azuie to utilize

Windy yes, but the pitch was in good nick. No rain over the other side of the pennines.

I went and the pitch was near perfect not muddy at all, the wind was strong but they used it better than us, I must admit that for the first time ever that Watson had a good game, in fact Swinton played well and we did but only in patches, our defence looks poor again especially near the line and we seem to only score spectacular tries and do nothing from 10 metres out.
Good games from Rob Worrincy, Miles Greenwood, James Haley, Sam Barlow (one try conceding missed tackle apart), Blacky and in patches Paul White (scored a peach of a try).
You could see we had the quality when we applied it but we were rusty, it will get better plus we have players still to come back yet, not many teams would have beaten Swinton tonight they throw it around well on that wide pitch, they are my bet for top or 2nd in Championship 1 this season.
Crowd, dunno around 1000, 60% or 70% Fax fans.
Late finish 9.52pm!

I have never played a close game of rugby in windy conditions.

Strong Swinton team (gave Barrow a fright away) in hostile conditions, good result.

Some SL teams would have struggled today! Roll on Oldham at home....

You'll do well to finish like last season.
Leigh are much stronger.
Its obvious ther were problems in the barra camp last season,if they can avoid them this season then they will be so much stronger.

What odds for Uncle Des sacking Schofield before the season ends??

Uncle des sacking schoey or schoey walking away ?.

Ego's just dont get on do they?.

It could be one hell of a ride up ther in barra.

Beswick and fairbank first game. Black and jones first game together. Strong swinton side with nothing to lose. Is always going to be a tough ask. We won even if not that well played. Well done but work to do!

GOOD JOB PATTERSON AND BARLOW PULLED US OUT OF THE MUCK 1 WIN FROM 1 ON POOR CONDITIONS

Lets kick on now fax

I enjoyed the game. Call it wrong but i dont enjoy watching us run in try after try against poor opposition. I thought it was a game we were never going to lose but i also thought that Swinton were excellent and look a very well organised team. They will do well this year on that showing. We looked rusty but year after year we have taken these games as not much more than glorified friendlys, experimenting with the team and players. I thought Greenwood, Worrincy, White, Black, Penky, and Barlow showed their obvious class but only in small patches. White, Black and Greenwood looked very sharp considering their injuries. A few players came up short which was pretty obvious for anyone watching, but overall there is a lot for us to work with and we all know it dosnt matter how many you win by does it. Thats why we are Champions.

On Hicks performance, if you took a neutral and asked them to watch both halfs of the game seperatly they would think that it were reffed by a different person. Penalty after penalty in the first half and then almost as though he was reffing a different set of rules in the second. Why cant they just be consistant?

anyone got pics from last night? cos I couln't go