LINDLEY SWIFTS are on the verge of lifting the Pennine League Second Division crown.

Their 34-20 triumph at Keighley Town made it 11 League wins on the trot and means that if player-coach Kevin Bower’s men win at leaders Crigglestone All Blacks on Saturday, they will be champions.

But if Swifts lose, then third-placed Bank Top Harriers will sneak the division’s second promotion spot on points difference.

Although opponents Crigglestone have a superior points difference to Swifts, the League ruling for when two teams finish on the same points is that the aggregate scores between the two teams is taken into account.

And with Lindley having beaten the All Blacks four weeks ago, the Huddersfield club hold the advantage.

As a result, the Swifts are urging all rugby league followers to make the short trip across to Crigglestone to lend their support in what would be a truly memorable achievement, especially when considering Lindley were eighth at Christmas.

“The effort the boys have put in since Christmas has been immense,” said Bower.

“It would have been so easy to think there was not a lot left to play for sitting in eighth place with five defeats from nine games.

“But not this set of players. They have shown true grit, resilience and determination to get us into this position and they are a credit to themselves and the club.”

As well as gearing up for their biggest fixture of the season this weekend, the Swifts are now preparing for their first Summer League campaign.

The latest training session is at Wappy Spring tonight (7pm).

All players are welcome and with the squad shaping up nicely, it looks like being a good first season. For further details contact Kev Bower on 07557112978.

Slaithwaite Saracens, meanwhile, wrapped up their Premier Division programme in a highly-creditable fifth spot with a 50-10 defeat at newly-crowned champions Queens.

The visitors sent a side that was a mixture of first and second team players and took the lead with a try from Ben Feehan before falling 28-4 behind by the break.

The Saracens then added a second try through Stuart Dunbar, converted by Danny Garside, in the second half, but it was always going to be a consolation score.

It was a disappointing finale to what has been a good first Premier Division season, particularly as they lost five of their top players to Swinton after seven matches and then had in-form forward Matt Lodge ruled out for the season with a badly-broken arm.