THE snow wreaked havoc for scores of Vikings fans who missed out on watching their team's opening game of 2007 in Wales, when two lorries overturned in the slippery conditions last Friday afternoon.

Widnes supporters travelling from Halton to South Wales were stuck in traffic for hours after two lorries jack-knifed in the snow on the A449 - the main route into Celtic Crusaders' home ground in Bridgend.

Some Vikings fans missed the game completely, while others turned up with only two minutes to go.

Players were forced to switch hotels only hours before kick-off.

Pat Cluskey, Vikings general manager, said: 'The players had to move hotels from their base in Swansea. They moved to a hotel in Port Talbot and even though it was a couple of miles down the road it took them three hours to get there.'

Steve McCormack, Vikings' head coach, paid tribute to the fans who travelled down in blizzard conditions to support the team.

The Widnes boss said: 'I'm full of admiration for the way the fans have battled down here and they deserve so much credit.'