League games are left out in the cold

RUGBY LEAGUE: The Festive Charity Trophy match between Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, scheduled for yesterday, has been rearranged for New Year's Day.

The fixture will now form a double-header at Headingley Carnegie with Leeds Carnegie's Aviva Premiership game against Gloucester.

The union match will kick-off at 1pm with the league friendly following at 3pm.

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"Playing both games on the same day gives us the best chance of getting both games on," explained Leeds Rugby chief executive Gary Hetherington.

"We now have a fantastic opportunity for a great afternoon of rugby on New Year's Day."

Head groundsman Jason Booth said: "We find ourselves in a position where the frost has penetrated the frost sheets and surface to a depth of two to three inches. We have experienced temperatures as low as minus 12 and 13 over the past few days.

"With the temperature set to stay below zero the additional help of the pitch cover will be a big asset in our attempts to make sure we play on New Years Day."

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Admission prices for the game will be the same as was originally announced for Boxing Day. Tickets purchased for the original date are still valid, as are union tickets.

The Boxing Day Challenge between Castleford Tigers and Bradford Bulls also fell victim to the weather.

A statement on the Castleford website read: "We are unable to rearrange for the day after Boxing Day or New Years Day. We will now turn our attentions to arranging another pre season game for Sunday, January 16."

The game between Batley Bulldogs and Dewsbury Rams, postponed yesterday because of a frozen pitch, has been rescheduled for Sunday, January 2 (2pm).

All of yesterday's amateur rugby league was also frozen off.

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