Fixture chaos as big freeze hits weekend
UNCERTAINTY hangs over what remains of the weekend’s sporting schedule after heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures claimed more fixtures yesterday.
Four of tomorrow’s Championship football matches have already been called off, the League One and League Two programmes have been decimated, and all 10 Scottish Cup games have been postponed. Rugby union’s Premiership and Magners League have also been badly hit, while several horse racing meetings have fallen victim to the weather.
With more blizzards forecast throughout Britain, further cancellations are expected today. All 10 of the weekend’s top-flight football fixtures are slated to go ahead, but Premier League sides will anxiously monitor conditions over the next 24 hours.
Midweek games at Blackburn, Manchester City and Arsenal were all postponed. Clubs will be mindful of having to refund travelling fans in the event of a postponement and will look to make early decisions today. Championship games at Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Preston and Watford are off, as are all but three matches in Leagues One and Two.
In rugby the fixtures at Sale, Bath, Harlequins and Gloucester have been postponed. Tonight’s Magners League games at Ulster and Connaught have also been called off.
GAME OFF | WHICH FIXTURES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED
FOOTBALL
Championship
(all Saturday):
1. Sheff Wed v Peterborough
2. Preston v Doncaster
3. Watford v Sheff Utd
4. Reading v Newcastle Utd
Scottish Cup
(all Sat):
5. Albion v Stirling
6. Ayr v Brechin
7. Edinburgh City v Montrose
8. Forfar v St Johnstone
9. Inverness CT v Motherwell
10. Kilmarnock v Falkirk
11. Morton v Celtic
12. Raith v Airdrie Utd
13. Ross County v Inverurie Loco Works
14. Livingston v Dundee
RUGBY UNION
Premiership:
15. Bath v Northampton (Sat)
16. Harlequins v Leeds (Sat)
17. Sale v Saracens (Sat)
18. Newcastle v Gloucester (Sun)
HORSE RACING:
19. Fontwell (today)
20. Wincanton (Sat)
21. Ffos Las (Sat)
22. Sedgefield (Sat)
23. Hereford (Sun)