Richardson: The ref is not to blame

Hampshire referee Keith Stroud carried out three pitch inspections - at 9am, noon and 1pm - before announcing his decision due to certain areas of the pitch remaining frozen. Richardson said: "The temperature had got down to minus seven degrees on Friday night, so nobody is to blame. "It was down to health and safety. An area of the pitch was dangerous, and the referee held three inspections, giving the game every chance of being on." Darlington, who have now had seven games postponed this winter, face a congested fixture list between now and the end of the season.