Adverse Weather

What's the worst weather you've watched rugby in?

There are a couple of games that stand out for me.

November 1992, Steve Simms first game at Leigh. He had a watching brief while Dennis Ramsdale did all the preparation and controlled the bench. I was at the game with my Grandad and we stood at the Glebe Street end of Hilton Park. About 5 minutes before kick off it began.
A hail shower, light at first before growing stronger and stronger.

I remember a lot of people running for cover and shelter in the Tommy Sale Stand as the hail came down harder and harder stinging my face but we stood there, cheering the lads on as they outplayed a previously unbeaten St Helens and won through 11-6 on a filthy night.

Another game that stands out was one against Swinton in 2003 when they played at Salford City FC's Moor Lane ground, as well as Simon Knox playing a blinding game against Leigh, there was the full range of weather from the four seasons, starting with blinding sunshine, then snow, then hail and a biting rain. Leigh struggled but with Michael Watts in good form, they eventually won 24-10.

A few weeks ago there was that game on SKY TV between Castleford and Leeds which was played in a raging thunderstorm.

I know despite of everything, only 2 or 3 games were ever abandoned at Hilton Park, although places like Odsal Stadium in Bradford, the old Watersheddings in Oldham and Thrum Hall in Halifax frequently had their own microclimate and must have seen more than their fair share of games abandoned down the years.

Before my time, my dad and Grandads often spoke about a game during Leigh's championship winning season against Widnes which the home side won 18-5 at Hilton Park while roads around the area were being closed due to blizzard and Arctic like conditions.

If we talk about periods of time for adverse weather then we've got to look at the harsh winters of the 60s when in 62/63 sport in this country virtually came to a standstill for 3 months and football, rugby league and rugby union had to extend their seasons. I think in one of Mike Latham's excellent books it lists there being THREE months without fixtures and all down to the weather.

Perhaps we are spoiled these days?