Leigh Centurions vice-captain Bob Beswick believes Sunday’s Summer Bash showdown with Featherstone Rovers at Blackpool will be every bit as intense as a Kingstone Press Championship Grand Final.
The Centurions, who are riding high on the back of a club-record 25 successive wins, were victorious in the 2014 title decider against Rovers but are taking nothing for granted this weekend.
Beswick, who has made over 100 appearances for Leigh, feels that either side could go home with the spoils with the tie played at a neutral venue at the world’s most famous seaside resort.
“It’s always a big occasion when we play Featherstone,” he said.
“They’ll bring a lot of fans down for it, and with it being played at Blackpool, it’s almost like a Grand Final in itself.
“No team has home advantage so that adds to it being a great game. I’m sure our supporters will be out in force to cheer us on.”
Leigh and Featherstone’s rematch of the 2014 Championship Grand Final will be the climax of the Summer Bash with five Championship fixtures and the iPro League One Cup final held prior to the Centurions and Rovers taking centre stage.
Beswick is a big advocate of the Summer Bash, and hopes that it can replicate the success of Super League’s Magic Weekend.
“It’s something new, really innovative and something that everyone is looking forward to,” he said.
“We’ve seen over the last few years that it’s been great for Super League to have one big weekend. Hopefully it can become a staple in the fixture list for the Championship.
“It’ll be a huge game to end the weekend with us playing Featherstone. Fingers crossed we can play just as well as we did in the Grand Final last year.”
Tickets for the Summer Bash are still available with day tickets for adults starting from £20 and £10 for concessions. Weekend tickets start from £30 for adults and £15 for concessions. Tickets can be purchased by visiting //www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk/or calling the Rugby League Ticket Hotline on 0844 856 1113.
The 2015 Summer Bash schedule in full is as follows:
Saturday May 23
12.00pm – iPro Sport Cup final, North Wales Crusaders v Swinton Lions
2.30pm – Workington Town v Whitehaven
4.45pm – London Broncos v Sheffield Eagles
7.00pm – Bradford Bulls v Halifax
Sunday May 24
12.45pm – Dewsbury Rams v Batley Bulldogs
3.00pm – Doncaster v Hunslet Hawks
5.15pm – Leigh Centurions v Featherstone Rovers
