Freeze hits local sport (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Freeze hits local sport

9:04am Monday 6th February 2012 in General

FREEZING conditions saw the majority of this weekend’s sporting action called off.

Frozen pitches were the main problem, with Basingstoke Town’s home game against Truro City postponed on Friday afternoon despite frost covers being deployed at The Camrose for most of the week.

It was a similar story for football teams across the area. Games involving Hartley Wintney, Whitchurch United, Tadley Calleva, Overton United and AFC Aldermaston were all called off, while there was no action on either Saturday or Sunday in the Basingstoke and District League.

Even Championship side Reading were frozen out, with the pitch at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium deemed unfit for play.

Basingstoke were the only north Hampshire rugby team to get a game, with Chineham, Overton, Kingsclere and Aldermaston all having matches postponed, while all of the weekend’s scheduled matches at Down Grange were postponed.

One of the only outdoor sports to be played over the weekend was hockey, with a full programme taking place on the artificial pitches at Down Grange despite the cold snap.