Rughby Union: Key encounters fall victim to the weather

Jan 21 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

THE two big rugby union matches scheduled to be contested by teams from the Liverpool side of the Mersey both fell late victim to the weather.

Despite West Park staff spending four hours working on the pitch for their vital clash with Morley, that match was called off early on Saturday. However, at Birkenhead Park, where both Park and Liverpool St Helens arrived at around lunchtime for another important encounter, the game was called off at the last minute.

Third-placed Park had understandably wanted to defy the wet weather and play, in order to reinforce their position near the top of North One. But LSH, with two or three of their best players still nursing knocks, were less enthusiastic due to the surface water on the pitch.

Referee Rowan Williams, who had travelled from Durham, was clearly in two minds as the pitch and its surrounds were extremely sodden and in the end, he left it up to the two team captains to reach agreement. LSH captain Phil Kearns stood firm in the steady drizzle and the referee duly postponed the match.

West Park and Morley have rearranged their meeting for Saturday, February 2, when Birkenhead Park are due to play a cup match at Staines.

Other games called off included Leigh v Broughton Park in North Two West and the South Lancashire/Cheshire One games involving Ruskin Park v Aspull, Burnage v Widnes and Bowdon v Wigan.