I'm just in the middle of doing to fixture list for Leighlife and have noticed that (according to the list I have) we are due to play Halifax at home on the weekend of the Northern Rail Cup final (20/21st July) - can this be right? (There's a full fixture list for that weekend - round 20 of the league).

I always thought that weekend was left blank for teams in the Championship on the final weekend.

Bet it has something to do with the World Cup.

It's because there are extra Championship fixtures this season and the fixture planners struggled to fit them all into the number of weeks available. There will be major problems if the weather is bad early in the season and games have to be re-scheduled.

Playing that weekend is going to cause re-scheduling for four teams though (the two who get to the final and the two they were scheduled to play) and isn't going to do much for the NRC final 'gate'.

At least we're more than likely able to host all home fixtures regardless of weather that's the joys of having first facilities at the LSV

Surprised that all of the games haven't been scheduled for the Thursday night as is the case for Challenge Cup Final weekend, though obviously that shows the RFL's priorities in which final they'd prefer people to attend!

Well in most cases you would think so but having first class facilities with under soil heating is no longer a guarantee the match will be played.

I'm pretty sure the weather has already resulted in Leigh having games called off at LSV due to ' the condition of pavements in the the surrounding area'

Yes i think you are right there Harold Rigby Jnr.

Hence why I said more than likely instead of guaranteed

It was the Salford friendly from a few year back wasn't it that got called off

Yes i think it was mate.