FEATHERSTONE Rovers took the title of the Championship's inaugural Summer Bash a little too literally as they squared up to Leigh Centurions but ultimately found the league leaders too hot to handle.

Gregg McNally scored a hat-trick for Leigh in an explosive finale to the event, which saw all six of the Championships scheduled games played over an action-packed weekend at Blackpool FC's Bloomfield Road ground.

The more than 7,000 fans inside the stadium and countless more watching Sky TV's live coverage were certainly treated to a feisty encounter in what was the final game of the weekend.

Rovers former Super League forward Paul Wood was sent off and Gareth Moore sinbinned for the Yorkshire side while Bob Beswick, Gareth Hock and Liam Kay all saw yellow for the Centurions as referee Chris Leatherbarrow worked hard to maintain control.

Leigh tested Rovers from the very first set of the game with Kay being harshly judged out of play when a Centurions penalty seemed a more likely outcome.

Given an early opportunity, Featherstone took it with Ben Blackmore diving in at the corner for Paul Sykes to goal.

Featherstone were good value for their early advantage, showing good ball movement and forward play and it took Leigh until the 10th minute to force any kind of advantage.

Ryan Brierley broke from halfway and despite being half checked and heading to ground still had the piece of mind to pass to the supporting McNally for the full-back to zoom to the posts and Ridyard goaled.

Fierce defence by both teams led to frustrations boiling over before Martyn Ridyard slid a smart kick into the corner for Kay to chase, only for the score to be disallowed due to contact with Blackmore.

At the other end, Blackmore put a certain chance down following a thunderous break from Jordan Baldwinson and that was where the game started to turn nasty with verbals and borderline tackles aplenty.

Hock found himself involved in one clash with Baldwinson and Reni Maitua left his mark on Sam Barlow and a few other Leigh players.

After Ridyard intercepted and drove 60 metres, the Centurions were in the ascendancy, only for Andy Bostock to fell McNally.

A flashpoint later and Beswick went close to a try under the posts for Leigh, only for him and Wood to clash.

A straight red card was shown to Wood for an alleged gouging incident and Beswick was sinbinned for retaliation.

Ridyard nudged the penalty over to give Leigh the lead and four minutes later the Centurions were celebrating their second try after McNally dummied his way over.

Will Sharp saw a try disallowed for Featherstone and there was just enough time before the break for Brierley to slot a drop goal over and give his side a 15-6 advantage.

Leigh made a great start to the second half with three tries in the first 11 minutes.

Greg Worthington was given a particularly physical test by his former team-mates but had too much strength after unselfish play from McNally before returning Centurion Mickey Higham – a midweek signing from Warrington – scored on his second debut for the club with a typical dummy half scoot following a magnificent break down the middle from Oliver Wilkes.

Rovers were still reeling and Ridyard lined up a scrum play perfectly on the left for McNally to sail in for his third score to lift the Leigh masses to their feet.

With Ridyard adding his fifth goal, Leigh were 31-6 up and looking for further points.

Unfortunately for the Centurions supporters, those never came as the game descended into an untidy affair.

Hock was sinbinned for a clash with Sharp before Moore lost his cool a moment later, chipping over McNally before picking blows with the Leigh full-back.

The bizarre nature of the game was almost complete when Kay was sinbinned for obstructing Thomas Minns after the centre chased a kick and Rovers were finally rewarded with a penalty try to Ian Hardman, again converted by Sykes.

There was still just enough time for the Centurions to see a further try for Jonny Pownall chalked off by the video referee but Leigh finished comfortable victors to claim their 26th successive win.

Leigh Centurions: McNally, Pownall, Platt, Worthington, Kay; Ridyard, Brierley; Moimoi, Beswick, Emmitt, Doxon, Goulden, Barlow. Subs: Higham, Hock, Wilkes, Hopkins.

Referee: Chris Leatherbarrow.

Attendance: 7,021.