Pre-Season Friendly Preview

Season 2023 begins in familiar surroundings for the Hurricanes with a trip to Heywood Road, Manchester for a pre-season friendly against the Swinton Lions.

The game on Sunday January 15th (kick off 2pm) and cements the excellent relationship that has built between the two clubs over the last 12 months.

Canes CEO Greg Wood commented’ "It'll be a great test for our lads mid-way through pre-season. Swinton proved what a brilliant side they were last year and will no doubt go well this year. I can't wait to get an early look at some of our exciting talent playing together for the first time in the Hurricanes shirt."

The last meeting of the two sides back in July 2022 saw the Lions take the spoils in a 52-22 victory, however Canes spent much of a tight first 60 mins within a score of their opponents with only a final flurry of points in the last quarter of the match allowing the home side to pull away. Tries from Matt Welham, Ben Stead, Kieran Lawton, and Elliot Hall, along with 3 Stead conversations making up the Midlands points tally.

By the end of the 2022 season the Lions had secured their promotion to the Championship after their heart stopping 16-10 victory against Doncaster in the playoffs and will provide sterling opposition for a Hurricanes squad, buoyed by the return to the Midlands of the free scoring full back Nathan Hill and creative half Dan Coates alongside the signing of the experienced former Keighley Cougars trio of Matt Bailey, Macauley Hallet and Scottish international Kieran Moran.

Hurricanes Head Coach Richard Squires is relishing the opportunity to see his players in action together “Swinton will be our first milestone of the year in terms of performance as it will be the first time the squad takes the field for the 2023 season” he said.

“The full Squad will get a hit out in the game and will allow us to try a few different combinations against a quality opposition. We want the players to be able to spend as much time together as possible and get comfortable with each of us as soon as possible and really get playing the way we want to play building into the season.”

The 2023 League One campaign begins on Sunday February 19th when Cornwall RL make the trip to the Midlands. To keep up with all the latest ‘Canes’ info, follow us on all our social media platforms!

Swinton Lions v Midlands Hurricanes

Sunday January 15th, 2023, Kick Off 2pm

Heywood Road, Manchester

#COYC #UTC