AUGUST should be hot for amateur Rugby League. And the hottest spot will be Twist Lane - the home of Leigh Miners.

Their popular pre-season Champions Challenge is now set for its 16th year with some classic clashes in Round 1 over the weekend of August 3/4.

First comes a repeat of the National Cup Final...Ellenborough Rangers, holders of all the Cumbrian trophies, locking horns with Skirlaugh, the Yorkshire and National Cup champs.

That same afternoon Woolston (Lancashire Cup winners and National Premier League champions) face hosts Leigh Miners. Expect no prisoners!

Sunday, August 4: Simms Cross (North West Counties Cup winners) will clash with National Premier League runners-up St Pat's.

Then another tough Wigan outfit, St Jude's (Conference Second Division champions and last year's Challenge runners-up) meet North West Counties champs Thatto Heath.

The semi-finals will be on August 10, the final one week later. The action is guaranteed!

Pre-match entertainment on the first weekend features the Hilton Cup comp - West Bank v Leigh Rangers and Wigan St Pat's v Golborne on the Saturday, Leigh East v Leigh Eagles and Ashton v Lunts Heath on the Sunday.

This Saturday (1pm) Parkside Golborne hold their annual Shaun Johnson Memorial 10-a-side comp.

There will also be a RL Memorabilia and Programme Fair in the clubhouse. That starts at 11am, 20p entrance.

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