SOME of the top amateur Rugby League teams in the country are heading for Leigh.

The 19th year of the Champions Challenge kicks off on August 7 for three weekends of first class sport.

Leigh MR again host the event, sponsored by Tetley Carlsberg, which will culminate in a grand final at Twist Lane on August 21.

New to the Challenge are Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks, a side running favourites for election to the National Conference, winners of their Yorkshire division and coached by Eagles Super League stars Mark Aston and Paul Broadbent.

Rose Bridge, NorthWest Counties Premiership champions and recent runners-up in the Ken Gee Cup, will be a tough nut to crack; look out for rising star Stuart Cassidy, a stand-off with glossy potential.

Leigh East deserve to be there. Strong runners for the National League Division One title, coached by ex-Leigh player Steve Grimshaw, and to be helped by Hilton Park stars John Gunning and John Costello. Dark horses!

Orrell St James, with ex-Leigh player Mark McGughan, were surprise winners of the Lancashire Cup and could be another surprise package.

And the impressive Wath Brow Hornets are back, hoping to pick up the Grainey Trophy to go alongside the Cumbria Cup, Jennings Cup . . . a winning team.

Simms Cross, representing Cheshire, are old friends of the competition, having appeared in five finals.

Eccles are the current Champions Challenge champions - and aim to keep their title.

Leigh MR make up the eight teams planning to begin the Millennium Campaign with some shining silverware.

August 7: Simms Cross v Leigh East (1.30pm), Wath Brow Hornets v Rose Bridge (3pm); August 8: Eccles v Orrell St James (1.30pm), Leigh MR v Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks (3pm).

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