Cross Keys have confirmed details of their Konica Minolta Welsh Cup tie with Newport which was this week the centre of a television row.

BBC and S4C decided it would be screened on January 24 - half an hour after the massive Newport Gwent Dragons Heineken Cup tie with Leicester started live on Sky.

There were howls of protest from all quarters, complaints being made to the television companies, the WRU and the Argus.

But after a big rethink, BBC and S4C saw the error of their ways and decided not to screen the Cross Keys tie which will now go ahead the following day - as the two clubs had originally agreed - with a 2.30pm kick-off.

Colin Vernall, Cross Keys chairman, said: "We are delighted with the decision - common sense has prevailed. It is good for both clubs and hopefully Cross Keys supporters will go down and support the Dragons.

"Hopefully they will have a good Saturday and we can have a good Sunday - we will certainly give Newport a warm welcome and we're looking forward to a very good weekend.

"And we would like to thank Newport for all their support. It has been appreciated." Newport coach Leigh Jones (pictured left) added: "It's good news because now it means supporters may not have to make a choice.

"It is the right decision and hopefully there will be big support up at Cross Keys."

Tickets for the tie will be with Newport tomorrow. Stand tickets are £10 (no concessions), field £7 and £5 for OAPs and children.

Letters and e-mails flowed to the Argus from fans astonished at the initial television decision.

Richard Lockett, from Malpas, said: "Just as I thought that things were settling down in Gwent with club and regional rugby making good progress, the mandarins in the WRU and the beloved television companies, have managed to disrupt the game and the supporters once again."

And from over the Severn Bridge, Ioan Williams, of Bristol, said: "I find it hard to understand such a crass and ignorant decision. I am dismayed that the governing body, in the shape of the WRU, has allowed this to happen.

"I understand they are saying it is out of their hands and the decision lies solely with S4C. I find it a little hard to comprehend when the WRU now has supposedly professional administrators who have entered into an agreement that they have so little control over."

Dennis Bennett, from Newport, described the initial move by S4C as a 'disgraceful act', adding: "We all believe that with the introduction of professional management at the WRU the days of the old bungling amateurs were finished.

"Steve Lewis, the new general manager, has washed his hands of the affair and he seems happy to continue that WRU tradition of making a mess out of something that could so easily be sorted out."

Andrew Blackman wrote to S4C and said: "I am extremely unhappy with the fact that you cannot reschedule the televising of the Welsh Cup match."

And another view from over the Bridge came from Ian Pope, of Portishead, Bristol.

He said: "It is crazy to put them head-to-head. Put them at different times and the total attendances will be bigger."

Just to indicate the depth of feeling on the matter, and the views expressed by people living away from South Wales, Councillor Gareth Davies wrote from Cramlington in Northumbria about the issue and said: "Does anyone doubt now that the WRU couldn't organise a bun fight in a bakery?"