Again there is an edge to the fixture with Morley seeking to stay top of the table and Penrith in fourth place but with a game in hand on both Stockport, who are second, and third-placed Chester, so they too have much to play for.

Penrith, who are the highest scorers in the division but have the worst defensive record in the top six, proved a tough nut to crack at Scatcherd Lane in September, losing only 12-8 as Simon Bradshaw and Liam Frost scored the home team's tries. The Cumbrians are a big side and will be keen to impose themselves on the Maroons as they are well capable of cutting loose on home soil.

Last Saturday's postponement at West Hartlepool was especially irritating. On Friday, the home club told Morley there was no problem with frost and they were confident the game would go ahead. The following morning they rang Morley coach Peter Seabourne to say there was no problem with frost but there were several inches of snow on the pitch.

Seabourne still had the players in and they went to Batley Sports Centre and had a good work-out. The coach then rang Stockport and was told their game with Penrith was on.

He drove over there only to discover the match had been postponed because both teams felt the ground was too hard. So he continued his tour to Cheshire and went to watch Chester against Darlington Mowden Park, which proved a useful move as both visit Scatcherd Lane next month.

Seabourne remarked: "It was very unfortunate to find the West Hartlepool game was off because, after the way the lads played in the first 20 minutes against Stockport last weekend, I felt they were ready to post a big score. They had trained really well and seemed very much up for the game."

The trip to West Hartlepool has now been put back to April 17 as the RFU have extended the season by a week and the play-offs are on April 24.

The Yorkshire Cup final is scheduled for April 14 but at present that competition is very much put on one side.

Morley have yet to play their tie at Pontefract and the winners were due to meet Sheffield Tigers this weekend, which underlines how much the weather has affected things.

Seabourne remarked: "It's a nightmare. The lads prepare really well each week and then there is nothing at the end of it. If we had been at home last Saturday we could probably have played.

"We seem to be more fortunate than some clubs regarding training because a few haven't trained properly for five weeks. Somehow you have got to find a way of keeping the players on their toes."

There is better news of Tom Gray, who had the operation on an ankle last Saturday. The exact outcome will not be known for two weeks but apparently the damage is not as bad as was first feared and he hopes to be back before the end of the season."