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