Rugby League: Pitch battle ended

THE saga of the attempts to play the Regal Trophy tie between Bradford Northern and Halifax took a further twist yesterday. The League decided that the fixture will be played at Bradford's own Odsal stadium, overturning its ruling of the previous night that it would be played at Headingley. Malcolm Reilly, the Halifax coach, condemned what he saw as the League's prevarication.

A snowstorm caused the game's second postponement on Tuesday and the League had rescheduled it for last night on Leeds' heated pitch. Bradford's appeal to play at Odsal tonight, however, succeeded. Another postponement or a draw, though, will produce a replay on Sunday, the day when the winners' quarter-final against London Crusaders is scheduled. Widnes have transfer-listed their prop, Harvey Howard.