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Sat 09 Jan 2010 · National League 2 North
1st XVLoughbro Students
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Loughborough postponement
Phil Haswell11 Jan 2010 - 04:57
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As the snow piles up so, too, do Westoe’s problems. There was wipeout on Saturday of the entire National 2 North programme - when table-topping Loughborough Students were due at Wood Terrace - which has been rearranged to be staged instead on May 1.
Already the scheduled last game of the 30-match campaign against visitors Caldy falls a week earlier when South Shields Cricket Club - which by then will occupy the shared ground - have league commitments..
So this latest abandonment due to the Arctic conditions means an additional home fixture will intrude still further into the cricket season.
The two vacant dates on February 6 and March 20 are already filled by fixtures that have fallen victim of the unyielding sub-zero weather - in Westoe’s case away to Rugby Lions and Harrogate.
A posse of volunteers had responded to chairman Duncan Murray’s plea to help groundsman Robin Wightman clear the pitch in a desperate bid to enable Saturday’s game to go ahead.
But he explained: “As a tester, Robin and I cleared a small area, and as soon as we did the moist soil below froze solid. We realized the task was hopeless.
“However, I did so appreciate would-be helpers coming forward. It showed how much some people care about their rugby team.”
Solutions to the predicament are being sought.
It is hoped that cricket officials will seek dispensation to rearrange their early fixtures so that the ground is available to the rugby players on at least one Saturday. And talks are going on with the Students about the possibility of playing their game on Easter Monday.
Said Mr Murray: “Though there are a lot of ifs and buts, we are hoping a very difficult situation can somehow be resolved.
“And we also have to hope upon hope that this dreadful weather relents before it creates still further problems.”
Gareth Nesbit’s men, who last played on December 12 when they lost 38-28 at home to Macclesfield, are due to travel to Preston Grasshoppers this weekend.
But already projected forecasts by the weathermen do not encourage optimism.
So this latest abandonment due to the Arctic conditions means an additional home fixture will intrude still further into the cricket season.
The two vacant dates on February 6 and March 20 are already filled by fixtures that have fallen victim of the unyielding sub-zero weather - in Westoe’s case away to Rugby Lions and Harrogate.
A posse of volunteers had responded to chairman Duncan Murray’s plea to help groundsman Robin Wightman clear the pitch in a desperate bid to enable Saturday’s game to go ahead.
But he explained: “As a tester, Robin and I cleared a small area, and as soon as we did the moist soil below froze solid. We realized the task was hopeless.
“However, I did so appreciate would-be helpers coming forward. It showed how much some people care about their rugby team.”
Solutions to the predicament are being sought.
It is hoped that cricket officials will seek dispensation to rearrange their early fixtures so that the ground is available to the rugby players on at least one Saturday. And talks are going on with the Students about the possibility of playing their game on Easter Monday.
Said Mr Murray: “Though there are a lot of ifs and buts, we are hoping a very difficult situation can somehow be resolved.
“And we also have to hope upon hope that this dreadful weather relents before it creates still further problems.”
Gareth Nesbit’s men, who last played on December 12 when they lost 38-28 at home to Macclesfield, are due to travel to Preston Grasshoppers this weekend.
But already projected forecasts by the weathermen do not encourage optimism.
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