Championship Talk: Don’t give up on the Bash

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Don’t give up on the Bash

EXCITEMENT on the field, questions off it.

The 2018 Summer Bash provided outstanding action between well-matched Betfred Championship sides, with some thrilling games playing out in the Blackpool sun.

But an aggregate attendance of 11,805 - around 30 percent down on last year’s record of 16,444 - attracted criticism in some quarters.

The crowd figure had risen in each of the three previous instalments of the event, but it came as no real surprise that this year’s weekend failed to reach those heights.

Taking out the considerable support of Bradford Bulls and Hull KR was always going to have a major impact, and has of course led to increases in crowds elsewhere in the sport this year.

I’m not sure we should be sounding the death knell of what has proved to be a successful event on the back of one year’s figure - especially given that should the Bulls return next season and be joined by a well-supported Super League club that has been relegated, it could be straight back up.

Speak to just about anybody that attends the Summer Bash and they are full of praise for it - a weekend that brings fans from various clubs together and, crucially, provides a showcase event for those supporters, players and coaches.

It shouldn’t be underestimated how important it is for players at this level to have a bigger stage to play on at least once a season, live on Sky Sports and at a neutral venue.

All the reasons for launching the Summer Bash are still in place - and if the attendance provides a genuine worry, then work harder to improve that rather than just shelving another rugby league innovation at the first sign of trouble.

Whether having Magic Weekend and the Bash as an extra fixture is fair is a separate argument completely - but while the Super League version remains in place, so should the Championship one in this writer’s opinion.

And there was plenty to relish and remember from 2018 as well - the dramatic finale to Toronto-Leigh, Halifax’s Scott Murrell-inspired win over top four rivals Featherstone and the brilliance of Toulouse full-back Mark Kheirallah.

There was Swinton Lions’ first win of the season over rivals Rochdale, the dynamism of Dewsbury’s Daniel Igbinedion and Cory Aston’s brilliant hat-trick for Sheffield.

Players, supporters and coaches will remember those moments for years to come - let’s hope it’s not as final acts in the Summer Bash’s run.