Sky Sports to televise Summer Bash

Drew Darbyshire

Sky Sports have confirmed they will cover the Championship’s Summer Bash in Blackpool in May.

Toronto Wolfpack’s mouthwatering trans-Atlantic tussle with French side Toulouse Olympique will now launch the Championship programme at the Bash on Saturday May 18 with a 1:15pm kick-off.

The Greater Manchester derby between Rochdale Hornets and Swinton Lions, which had been due to kick things off in Blackpool, has been put back to a 3:30pm kick-off.

Then the Yorkshire clubs take over, with an intriguing clash between Featherstone Rovers and York City Knights at 545pm, before Bradford Bulls and Halifax take their local rivalry across the Pennines for the climax of the Saturday action from 8pm.

The three-match Sunday programme begins at 1pm with Mark Aston’s Sheffield Eagles, who have been surprise packets in the promotion race, taking on Barrow Raiders.

That is followed by the Heavy Woollen derby between Batley Bulldogs and Dewsbury Rams, who will be meeting in Blackpool for the fifth consecutive Bash, this time with a 3:15pm kick-off.

And the feature match of the Sunday programme will bring together the two Championship teams with the most recent Super League experience as Leigh Centurions face the revitalised Widnes Vikings, with a 5:30pm kick-off.

Championship Summer Bash

Saturday, May 18

13:15 – Toronto Wolfpack v Toulouse Olympique

15:30 – Rochdale Hornets v Swinton Lions

17:45 – York City Knights v Featherstone Rovers

20:00 – Halifax v Bradford Bulls

Sunday, May 19

13:00 – Barrow Raiders v Sheffield Eagles

15:15 – Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams

17:30 – Leigh Centurions v Widnes Vikings