Frozen pitch puts Chorley's Challenge Cup tie in doubt

Chorley Lynx's attempt to reach the last 16 of the Powergen Challenge Cup for the first time in their history could be put on ice if their Victory Park pitch does not thaw in time for tonight's tie.

The Lancashire side are due to play Wakefield, of Super League, but have organised a pitch inspection for 1.30 this afternoon to decide whether the match can go ahead. The pitch is decribed as "85 per cent playable", but the problem lies with the section in the shadow of the stand.

Chorleywill be without their suspended full-back, Lee Patterson, and have two of their close-season signings, Rob Smyth and Danny Barton, out injured.

Trinity, who showed some encouraging signs in their defeat at Warrington in their first Super League match, have their half-backs, Jamie Rooney and Ben Jeffries, back from knocks and have added Olivier Elima and Paul Handforth to their squad.

Union Treiziste Catalane, the French club earmarked for Super League in 2006, have named Steve Hall and Russell Bawden, who both joined them from the London Broncos this winter, in their side to play at Castleford tomorrow.

Castleford are also anxious over the weather. The club's spokesman, David Smart, said: "Our groundsman gets his forecasts from a local farmer and he says it should be all right."