Wintry weather takes toll on fixtures

The freezing conditions have forced a number of postponements to the weekend sporting programme, with the Football League and racing worst affected.

More than half the matches in League One and Two fell victim to the weather, with six matches in League One called off and eight in League Two a day before they were due to take place.

The clashes at Bury, Crawley, Crewe, Hartlepool, Scunthorpe, Accrington, Barnet, Port Vale, Rochdale and Southend were all postponed due to frozen pitches. A waterlogged pitch did for Torquay's match against Chesterfield, snow scuppered Bristol Rovers, while travel safety considerations forced the postponement of the matches between Oxford and Rotherham and Yeovil and Preston.

No Championship or Premier League games were affected but in Scotland the matches at Cowdenbeath, Brechin and Berwick were all called off.

There will be no turf racing in Britain this weekend after the meetings at Lingfield and Ascot joined Taunton, Haydock and Towcester in falling foul of the weather.

Meanwhile, European Rugby Cup admitted there is a possibility of disruption to the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup schedule this weekend.

In a statement, ERC said: "As the pool stages of ERC's tournaments reach their traditional dramatic conclusion this weekend, there is a possibility that adverse weather conditions may cause disruption to fixtures.

"ERC is committed to ensuring that all of this weekend's matches in the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup are played at the intended venues and at the scheduled times and dates.

"Throughout the week, ERC has been in regular contact with clubs to ensure all possible precautions have been made and that alternative venues are available.

"Should weather conditions or travel difficulties prevent matches from going ahead as scheduled, ERC will work with the clubs and match officials to ensure that fixtures are completed at the earliest possible time."