SWINTON LIONS are resting up over Christmas before the big one at Leigh on New Year's Day.

Mike Gregory's new faces have got off to a great start, winning their first three games in the Northern Ford Premiership and chief executive, Tony Barrow, says: "I think we have surprised a lot of people.

"We are over the moon with the start we've made. The lads are playing really well.

"The big game now is going to be Leigh. With the money they have splashed out they are expecting to be top of the league and to go up into the Super League, but we did them at their place last year, so who knows?"

Swinton's success has come after making a number of signings in the close season after losing players and to generally strengthen the squad.

"The surprising thing is how well and how quickly they have gelled together," said Barrow. "A lot of that is down to Mike and, on the field, Phil Veivers.

"A lot of people criticised us when we signed Phil because of his age.

"He's 35, but Mike signed him to be a voice on the field and the boys are responding to him. He knows what he's talking about, having played at the top with St Helens.

"A good team spirit and will to win are the two big factors you need in a side and it looks like we have them.

"We are going to need them as we have all the big teams coming up over the next month -- Leigh, Widnes, Oldham and Rochdale," Barrow added.