MAGNERS LEAGUE:CONNACHT'S OPENING game of the year could yet be postponed if a solution is not found for the frozen Sportsground pitch before Friday evening. The doubt over the Newport Dragons extends a period of frustration for Michael Bradley and his squad after the late, late cancellation of their home derby against Leinster on Saturday.

Connacht had been targeting Friday night’s home tie against the Welsh team not only as a chance to gain some Magners League momentum but also as preparation for their crucial Amlin Cup match against Montpellier next weekend.

Yesterday, Connacht officials were taking advice as to how to make the pitch playable, but are also seeking alternative venues. They will remain in daily communication with the Dragons officials during the week and have agreed to make a decision on whether the match should go ahead before the visitor’s scheduled flight on Thursday.

“We are looking at ways to blow heat under another cover to try and thaw the ground,” explained Connacht chief executive Gerry Kelly yesterday.

“Northampton have had similar problems like this in the past and we have been talking with them today. We are trying to locate the equipment right now. Obviously, using state-of-the-art equipment is very expensive, but we are looking at all options. We have taken IRFU advice and all others.

“This covering that is presently on the pitch is workable in temperatures of minus four degrees. And unfortunately the temperatures on the day of the Leinster match exceeded those (in minus Celsius). At 12 o’clock on Saturday, it looked as if the pitch was good to play on.

“Michael Cheika looked at it and it seemed playable. Having met the Leinster people on Saturday morning, they were equally eager. Both sides wanted to have the game played, but you have to put the safety of the players first.

“In my time, we have never postponed a game here – John Holland, who is around a lot longer than me, said that it was 1963 when we last had a freeze like this.

“The sun went down behind the stand and that area then started to freeze, and by two o’clock it was not playable. The referee made the decision and you could not disagree with it.

“We do apologise to everyone – the Christmas fixture is our biggest gate. The policy on our tickets is that the ticket is valid for the refixture.”

For coach Bradley, the weather has thrown what was set to be a busy opening few weeks of the year into limbo. After the major coup of consecutive Amlin Cup wins over Worcester Warriors, Bradley felt obliged to rest some of the team for the St Stephen’s Day visit to Munster. But the postponement of the Leinster game and the doubt hanging over this match leaves the squad with a lot of time to kill, and he admitted the Leinster postponement has been troubling.

“Both sides wanted to play the game,” Bradley said yesterday. “First of all, it is a very attractive feature. The timing was very good in terms of where it was in the calendar fixture and we had sold out the ground. In addition, Leinster had brought a very strong squad, so it looked like being a very attractive fixture and it was disappointing that it didn’t take place.

“Also, matches at this stage of the season have a significant importance for the players as opportunities to put themselves forward for selection for the Amlin Cup game against Montpellier.

“But the game itself was a big one for us. Local derbies are massive for us and there was a feeling of deflation afterwards.”

Yesterday, the Connacht team trained as usual in anticipation of hosting the Dragons on Friday evening, but Bradley conceded the conditions were not promising. He grimaced at the idea of another postponement.

“It wouldn’t be ideal. We can only deal with what we can deal with. The match is four full days away and the forecast is not great. At the moment, we are taking it that the match will be on.”

The Leinster and Connacht branches will try to nail down a suitable date to fulfil the fixture before the matter goes to the Magners League authorities. It seems likely the match will be played during one of the international weekends. Playing the game midweek has not been ruled out, but, in deference to the Leinster supporters who had already arrived in Galway prior to Saturday’s cancellation, a weekend fixture is the preferable option.