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Page last updated at 10:38 GMT, Saturday, 11 December 2010

Big freeze affecting Welsh sport

Snow
The cold weather is causing disruption to the sporting calendar

The Dragons' home Heineken Cup showdown with Wasps has been be switched away from Rodney Parade as the big freeze continues to disrupt Welsh sport.

But both Wrexham and Newport County's FA Trophy first round ties are on after their respective pitches passed Saturday morning pitch inspections.

The Dragons will play Sunday's clash at the Cardiff City Stadium because it has undersoil heating to beat the frost.

The Rodney Parade pitch is frozen and does not have undersoil technology.

Rodney Parade is the the only Welsh regional rugby ground without undersoil heating.

So the Dragons brought in heaters to blow hot air onto the turf in a desperate attempt to ensure their glamour tie with two-time Heineken Cup champions Wasps is played on their own ground.

"Rules state that the game has to be played this weekend," said Dragons stadium manager Mark Jones.

The Dragons admitted defeat on Thursday evening as the sub-zero temperatures continue in Gwent so Sunday's Pool Six showdown was moved to the Welsh capital.

Wrexham's FA Trophy match with Kidderminster Harriers was in doubt due to a frozen pitch - but the Racecourse Ground passed a Saturday morning pitch inspection so the game could go-ahead..

Newport's FA Trophy Round One tie with Wealdstone was also in severe doubt - but Spytty Park passed a Saturday morning inspection so the game is on.

One Welsh Premier fixture, however, has already fallen victim to the weather as Llanelli's game with Prestatyn Town is off.

Llanelli's Stebonheath Park pitch failed a Saturday morning pitch inspection.

The concern for Llanelli boss Andy Legg is his Reds, who have not have played since 9 November, have played just 12 league games since August - and have to play another 10 and reach 22 matches by 15 January when the Welsh Premier League splits in two.

But Newtown's visit to Carmarthen Town is on after the Richmond Park pitch passed a Saturday morning pitch inspection.

Newport's British & Irish Cup game at Worcester Warriors will go-ahead after the Sixways Stadium surface passed a Friday pitch inspection.

But Saturday's British and Irish Cup Pool D clash at Sardis Road between Pontypridd and Ayr has been put back a day to Sunday and will kick-off at 1230 GMT at Glamorgan Wanderers' Memorial Ground.



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see also
Welsh Premier
22 Jan 08 |  Welsh
Newport County 0-0 Wealdstone
11 Dec 10 |  Newport County
Wrexham 2-0 Kidderminster
11 Dec 10 |  Wrexham
Dragons 16-23 Wasps
12 Dec 10 |  Rugby Union
Third SPL match falls to weather
10 Dec 10 |  Scottish Premier
Aberystwyth-Airbus game postponed
08 Dec 10 |  Welsh
Cold snap continues to hit sport
07 Dec 10 |  Sport Homepage
Cold hits Welsh sporting fixtures
05 Dec 10 |  Wales
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales


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