THE Cornish Pirates were left with a blank weekend after Saturday's scheduled fixture at Rotherham Titans was called off due to a frozen pitch.

Sub-zero temperatures at Clifton Lane in the days preceding the game resulted in the Titans bringing in covers from Doncaster Racecourse to protect the pitch and an initial inspection last Thursday afternoon looked promising.

But with no respite in the weather and the Pirates due to travel north on Friday morning, referee Andre Jackson inspected the pitch again and having declared it unplayable postponed the game just over 24 hours ahead of the scheduled-kick off.

Pirates forwards coach Ian Davies said: "It sounds like it was the right decision in the end. Initially we had planned to leave Penzance at 8am, but Rotherham had scheduled the pitch inspection for 2pm."

He added: "We delayed our departure as long as we could and then just before midday we got the news. It means that everyone here can now have a few days off before we try again next Saturday."

The match has been rescheduled for this Saturday, which was originally scheduled as a reserve weekend in the fixture list, with a 2pm kick-off.