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Storm Dennis wrecks sports fixtures as 70mph winds and driving rain batter Britain


STORM Dennis wreaked havoc on the sports calendar.

Winds of up to 70mph and up to a month’s rainfall are due on  Saturday.

 Race goers brave Storm Dennis at Haydock

Race goers brave Storm Dennis at Haydock

 Rainwater floods the pitch at The County Ground, Swindon

Rainwater floods the pitch at The County Ground, SwindonCredit: Reuters

Rangers were hoping to cut Celtic’s lead at the top of the table to seven points with a win over Livingston, but the contest was cancelled just before 1pm and rearranged for 3pm on Sunday, February 16.

Rangers tweeted: “#RangersFC can announce that the match against @LiviFCOfficial, which was postponed earlier this afternoon, will take place tomorrow (Sunday, February 16) with a 3pm kick-off.”

Motherwell were set to face St Mirren but, after a 12.30pm pitch inspection, it was decided the game should be called off with the worsening forecast taken into account.

Well chief executive Alan Burrows told the club’s official website: “We tried everything possible to get the game on.

“Unfortunately we have suffered from exceptional rainfall throughout the week, and in particular overnight into Saturday which has continued right through into the day.

“That rainfall is also forecast to continue throughout the time the match was due to be played.

“This is the first postponement we have suffered due to the pitch in over five years.”

 Stewards move sandbags to help secure entrance gates at Birmingham's St Andrew's

Stewards move sandbags to help secure entrance gates at Birmingham’s St Andrew’sCredit: Reuters

Rochdale’s Sky Bet League One match at home to Tranmere also fell victim to the weather.

A statement from Rochdale said: “The fourth official of today’s game has taken into account the height of the water table under the pitch, the surface water on the pitch from the rain already today and the forecast of Storm Dennis, and has therefore decided to call the game off.”

Nine of 12 matches in the Vanarama National League have also been postponed.

Racing at Wincanton was abandoned with the situation being monitored on an ongoing basis in the day’s three other meetings at Haydock, Lingfield and Ascot.

 Storm Dennis is set to sweep into the UK

Storm Dennis is set to sweep into the UKCredit: Alistair Grant Freelance / wxcharts

Swindon’s Sky Bet League Two game at home to Scunthorpe was postponed just over an hour before kick-off.

A Swindon statement read: “In the interests of supporter safety, club officials have made the decision to call today’s game off as it became clear that the club could not guarantee the welfare of those in attendance, as the weather deteriorated throughout the day.”

Storm Dennis – ‘bomb cyclone’ set to batter Britain bringing heavy rain and gale force winds


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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