The weather wiped out the bulk of the county’s rugby union programme with the warmer weather coming just too late.
The week’s freeze had done it’s worst with pitches across Cumbria rock hard, but with a rise in temperatures and some rain, matches were saved.
Penrith against Wirral went ahead in Regional 1 North West, with the help of an artificial surface, while Whitehaven v Wigton in Counties 1 Cumbria was the only one on grass to survive.
Hopes have certainly been raised that Sunday’s big rugby league showpiece the Workington Town v Whitehaven clash at the Fibrus Community Stadium will go ahead for the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy.
In football last night’s Northern League game at Gillford Park between Carlisle City and Whitley Bay was the first casualty.
Neighbours Penrith play this afternoon at home to title-chasing Shildon, as they too are helped by the new artificial surface at Frenchfield.
Carlisle’s trip to Cheltenham for a massive relegation battle in League One was called off yesterday because of a frozen pitch.
Barrow’s League Two home clash with Crewe will go ahead as Pete Wild’s men continue their push for automatic promotion.
Workington’s big clash at Borough Park at home to Warrington Rylands was given the go-ahead after an early morning pitch inspection. If the game had been scheduled for yesterday it would have been off, indication of the changing weather conditions.
Kendal Town were flying to the Isle of Man for their latest North West Counties Premier Division fixture with conditions amenable to as game of football.
Holker Old Boys should have travelled to Garstang in Division One North but the game was called off because of a frozen pitch.
In the Wearside League Windscale’s home game with Annfield Plain was called-off because the Falcon Ground pitch was unplayable.
So, too, in the West Lancashire League where Whitehaven were stopped from travelling to Turton but back in west Cumbria Cleator Moor Celtic were able to host Blackpool Wren Rovers.
