WITH snow and ice causing postponement last Saturday, Saints have re-arranged their daunting Fourth Round Silk Cut Challenge Cup tie at Castleford for this Sunday, February 4, kick-off 3.30pm.

Visits to the confined Wheldon Road pitch have rarely proved fruitful for Saints, in particular in recent seasons, for they have lost eight of the 10 clashes since 1986, including a 26-18 defeat in December when Saints staged a recovery after trailing 26-0.

However, it may be an omen, but Saints won 10-6 on their last Challenge Cup appearance at 'Cas' in 1976 on a day when Eric Chisnall scored the only try of the game, and the Knowsley Road side went on to lift the trophy against Widnes - and they haven't won it since!

Team news from Saints is that record signing Paul Newlove, Anthony Sullivan, Chris Joynt, Ian Pickavance and Joey Hayes are all expected to be fit, but they will lack the suspended Scott Gibbs while Castleford will be without Tony Smith for a similar reason.

A few stand tickets remain for sale at Knowsley Road price £10 and £7, while the referee is Mr. Stuart Cummings of Widnes, and the winners will travel to either Rochdale or Thatto Heath in round two.

Two Saints' supporters who did make the abortive trip to Castleford on Saturday were former Knowsley Road stars and Lance Todd Trophy winners Kel Coslett and Geoff Pimblett, who had just left the motorway when they received the 'match off' message.

Kel and Geoff were to have attended the game in their capacity as Silk Cut representatives but, undaunted by last weekend's wintry conditions, they are hopeful of being at Wheldon Road on Sunday. Saints' Alliance team travel to Wakefield tonight, Thursday, in a first round Challenge Cup tie, kick-off 7.30pm.

Saints' chief executive David Howes is to hold another 'meet the fans' forum, in conjunction with the Centenary Showcase, at West Sutton Labour Club on Tuesday, February 6, at 8pm. The original admission of £3 has been scrapped.

Home Super League fixture details are that the kick-off time for the game with Wigan on Good Friday has yet to be fixed, while the Sunday matches with Bradford (April 14) and Oldham (May 5) will start at 3pm.

From then on all fixtures at Knowsley Road will continue to be played on Sunday with a 7pm kick-off, but this could change subject to Sky television schedules.

Yorkshire-based teenage Rugby Union star Paul Sampson, who was called into the England squad for the Five Nations tournament, is a school friend of Ben Howes, son of Saints' chief executive David Howes.

Forthcoming events in the Phil Veivers testimonial include: Race nights at the Eagle and Child, Rainford, on Wednesday, February 7, and at Sprayhurst on Wednesday, February 14. Sportsman's dinner at Birchley St. Mary's Club on Wednesday, March 13. £15. A small number of brochures are on sale at Saints. Further details on Phil Veivers' testimonial events may be obtained on Billinge 892919 or St. Helens 737917.

An application by Liverpool St. Helens Rugby Union club to play a number of games at Knowsley Road has been left in abeyance by Saints.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.