SWINDON Wildcats will start the 2018-19 season with a weekend double-header against Hull Pirates in the Autumn Cup in mid-September.
Aaron Nell’s troops welcome the Pirates to the Link Centre for their first competitive fixture of the campaign on Saturday, September 15 before making the reverse trip to Humberside 24 hours later.
The Cats will play four pre-season fixtures prior to that, with home and away matches against NIHL South One rivals Bracknell Bees and Streatham.
Swindon host the Bees on Saturday, September 1 before heading to Bracknell the next day.
A double-header against Streatham – starting at the Link Centre – then takes place the following weekend.
After their first competitive fixtures against Hull, the Cats complete their Autumn Cup group programme with double-headers against Sheffield Steeldogs and Telford Tigers on the final two weekends in September.
Nell’s side begin their league schedule in NIHL South One with home and away fixtures against Invicta Dynamos, starting at the Link Centre on Saturday, October 6.
Swindon head coach Nell said: “The fixtures coming out is always an exciting time for fans and players alike.
“We now know the make-up of our season and can actively start putting plans in place to ensure we are best prepared for every game we play.
“Pre-season will be tough against Bracknell and Streatham, however, they will be the best preparation for the Autumn Cup.
“We want to defend our trophy and the likes of Hull, Sheffield and Telford have all improved on last year and we are going to have to hit the ground running straight away.”
Swindon will play four fixtures over the festive period, with home matches against Bracknell and Peterborough Phantoms on Saturdays, December 22 and 29 respectively.
Between those, the Cats travel to the Bees on Sunday, December 23 and Basingstoke Bison on Friday, December 28.
There is no Boxing Day or New Year’s Day fixture this season, with Swindon beginning 2019 with a home game to Milton Keynes Thunder on Saturday, January 5.
The Cats’ final game of the league season is a trip to the Thunder on Sunday, March 17.
The league format will be a 42-game league schedule with six games against each team and the first home and away game of each will double up as a South Cup fixture.
Sadly, Cardiff Fire have had to pull out at short notice, so the league has now reverted to three home and three away games per team.
SWINDON WILDCATS 2018/2019 FIXTURES
(Home fixtures in bold)
SEPTEMBER
SAT 1 - BRACKNELL BEES
Sun 2- Bracknell Bees
SAT 8 - STREATHAM IHC
Sun 9 - Streatham IHC
SAT 15 - HULL PIRATES
Sun 16 - Hull Pirates
Sat 22 - Sheffield Steeldogs
SUN 23 - SHEFFIELD STEELDOGS
SAT 29 - TELFORD TIGERS
Sun 30 - Telford Tigers
OCTOBER
SAT 6 - INVICTA DYNAMOS
Sun 7 - Invicta Dynamos
SAT 13 - LONDON RAIDERS
Sun 14 - Bracknell Bees
SAT 20 - STREATHAM IHC
Sun 21- Streatham IHC
SAT 27 - MK THUNDER
Sun 28 - London Raiders
NOVEMBER
SAT 3 - INVICTA DYNAMOS
Sun 4 - MK Thunder
Sat 10 - Basingstoke Bison
Sun 11 - Invicta Dynamos
SAT 17 - BASINGSTOKE BISON
Sun 18 - Peterborough Phantoms
SAT 24 - MK THUNDER
Sun 25 - Bracknell Bees
DECEMBER
SAT 1 - PETERBOROUGH PHANTOMS
Sun 2 - Streatham IHC
SAT 8 - LONDON RAIDERS
Sun 9 - Peterborough Phantoms
SAT 15 - INVICTA DYNAMOS
Sun 16 - London Raiders
SAT 22 - BRACKNELL BEES
Sun 23 - Bracknell Bees
Fri 28 - Basingstoke Bison
SAT 29 - PETERBOROUGH PHANTOMS
JANUARY
SAT 5 - MK THUNDER
Sun 6 - Invicta Dynamos
Sat 19 - Streatham IHC
Sun 20 - MK Thunder
SAT 26 - PETERBOROUGH PHANTOMS
SUN 27 - LONDON RAIDERS
FEBRUARY
SAT 9 - BRACKNELL BEES
Sun 10 - Peterborough Phantoms
SAT 16 - BASINGSTOKE BISON
Sun 17 - Basingstoke Bison
SAT 23 - LONDON RAIDERS
Sun 24 - Streatham IHC
MARCH
SUN 3 - BASINGSTOKE BISON
SAT 9 - STREATHAM IHC
SAT 16 - BRACKNELL BEES
Sun 17 - MK Thunder
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