By Matt Lawton
July 26 2003

It is sure to be a truly momentous occasion at Hilton Park on Sunday afternoon, with several events happening that are sure to live long in the memory, and that's not even including the actual match! The game will be preceeded by the usual excellent pre-match entertainment, along with a special celebration to commemorate the 85th birthday of club stalwart Tommy Sale. As part of this celebration, the newly re-named Tommy Sale Stand will be unveiled in his honour in recognition of almost 75 years loyal service to the club.

The game is also important as it will mark the long-awaited and hugely anticipated Leigh debut of former St. Helens stand off and Ireland international Tommy Martyn, a month after signing a one and a half year deal with his home-town club. The Centurions are hoping that Martyn continuing the family dynasty, both his uncle and father played for Leigh, will attract a large crowd to Hilton Park. Ironically, the injury which has prevented Martyn from making his Leigh debut was sustained against Sunday's opponents Batley, when Martyn suffered a broken arm in a Challenge Cup tie for St Helens against the Bulldogs earlier this season, which ultimately proved to be Martyn's finally appearance for the Saints after ten years at Knowsley Road.

Also making his debut for his home-town club will be 21-year old prop forward Ricky Bibey, although his arrival from local rivals Wigan Warriors wasn't greeted with any of the fervour that greeted the arrival of Tommy Martyn when he signed. However, Centurions coach Paul Terzis sees Bibey, who has a Challenge Cup winners medal extensive Super League experience to his name despite his young age, as a vital piece of the jigsaw as Terzis looks to fit together the perfect team which he hopes will finally win promotion to Super League after the club have tried so hard non-stop for the past four years to achieve their ultimate goal.

The arrivals of these two Super League stars has thankfully helped to ease the huge injury problems suffered by the Centurions, with Lee Sanderson, John Duffy and Dale Cardoza also facing late fitness tests, with centre Phil Kendrick serving the final game of his two match suspension. Australian stand off Pat Weisner should return to the side, although it is widely expected that Weisner will play at loose forward to accomadate Tommy Martyn at stand off, with National League One "Player of the Month" Adam Bristow moving from loose forward to partner Sean Richardson in the second row.

As for the actual match, visitors Batley are struggling at the wrong end of the table, just two points clear of basement club Dewsbury Rams, ironically Batley's local rivals. Despite Leigh romping to a comfortably 38-12 victory in the away fixture at Batley earlier this season, the Centurions know all about the threat posed by the Bulldogs after being run very close in the Major Semi-Final of last season's Northern Ford Premiership play-offs, with the Centurions eventually running out 35-28 victors and clinching their place in the Grand Final against eventual winners Huddersfield Giants.

However, two of the key players of that Batley side, half-backs Glen Tomlinson and Dean Lawford, have departed Mount Pleasant, which has left a huge void in the Batley side which they have failed to recover from, despite the signing of Welsh international scrum half Barry Eaton from Super League side Widnes Vikings.

It is sure to be a great day for many reasons at The Coliseum on Sunday afternoon, get down there and show your support for the Centurions charge for Super League.