Dragons big night ruined by deluge

What was supposed to be an evening of celebration at Rodney Parade turned instead into a desperate damp squib last night.

The Dragons' official opening of their new Bisley Stand was ruined after the derby clash with the Blues was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.

A massive afternoon deluge turned Rodney Parade into a lake and left patches of the ground sodden, particularly at the clubhouse end of the stadium where the water on the pitch was ankle deep.

Stewards drafted in from the Celtic Manor Resort, who suffered the same saturating conditions when hosting the Ryder Cup just over a year ago, tried for an hour to sweep the water away as referee Nigel Owens and the coaches deliberated over a decision.

The match was due to kick off at 7.10pm but was put back to 8pm.

But, the water was so deep at the clubhouse end even the try line disappeared beneath it.

Referee Owens consulted again with Dragons coach Darren Edwards and Blues boss Gareth Baber, but there was no way the game could go on and the decision was inevitable.

Owens insisted it was the right decision to try and wait as long as possible and not to call off the game earlier.

"The Dragons ground staff did everything they could to get to get the game on, but it was not to be," said Owens.

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