SNOW and freezing weather is causing disruption to sporting fixtures scheduled to take place this weekend.
A dozen Northern Premier League top-flight matches on Saturday afternoon, including a trip to Farsley Celtic for Witton Albion, have already been postponed.
The league authorised early pitch inspections, something it has done twice previously this season, with most parts of the UK under warnings for snow and ice.
The North West Counties League followed suit on Friday, and matches involving 1874 Northwich at Barnoldswick Town and Northwich Victoria’s home date with Runcorn Town have been called off.
Winsford United confirmed later that their meeing with Abbey Hey at Barton Stadium has been postponed too.
The Cheshire League issued a statement on Thursday to confirm officials had taken a decision to call off all fixtures due to take place on grass pitches.
That means Lostock Gralam, Middlewich Town and Cuddington will not be in action.
It is a similar story for the town’s rugby teams.
Northwich had been scheduled to visit Firwood Waterloo, a fellow promotion-hopeful, in North One West on Saturday.
However their hosts pitch is covered in snow and the game will be rearranged.
No rugby matches will take place at Moss Farm, where Blacks’ second and third teams were due to host North West Intermediate League games.
Following a pitch inspection on Saturday morning, Winnington Park advised that their South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two encounter with Oldershaw had fallen victim to the weather too.
Winnington Park Men’s Hockey Club also advised on Friday their first team would not be travelling to Colwyn Bay the following day for a North West League encounter.
Matches involving their second and third teams at Sir John Deane's College have also been cancelled.
Winnington Park's Ladies, due to host Lymm's seconds in a Cheshire Women's League encounter on Saturday morning, will not play either.
Northwich Rowing Club’s safety officer has declared the River Weaver closed until further notice because of the conditions on the water and on the towpath.
The safety officer has declared the river closed until further notice because of the conditions on the water and underfoot.
— Northwich RC (@NorthwichRC) March 1, 2018
The club is scheduled to welcome close to 100 crews on Sunday morning for a time-trial that will determine places in a team to represent the north west at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta next month.
Indoor sport has been affected too.
Cheshire’s darts players had been due to visit Yorkshire for a British Inter-County Championship Premier Division fixture this weekend.
However they will not now travel, and the teams – both men and women – will meet instead at a later date.
Postponed sporting fixtures (as at 1700 on Friday)
Saturday, March 3
Darts
British Inter-County Championship
Premier Division
Yorkshire v Cheshire
Football
Northern Premier League
Premier Division
Farsley Celtic v Witton Albion
North West Counties League
Premier Division
Barnoldswick Town v 1874 Northwich
Northwich Victoria v Runcorn Town (at Barnton)
Winsford United v Abbey Hey
Cheshire League
League One
Middlewich Town v Egerton
League Two
Cuddington v Orford
JA Walton Challenge Cup
Mersey Valley v Lostock Gralam
Hockey
Cheshire Women's League
Division One
Winnington Park v Lymm 2nd
North West Men's League
Division One
Colwyn Bay v Winnington Park
Division Four South
Winnington Park 2nd v Colwyn Bay 2nd
Division Seven South West
Winnington Park 3rd v Neston 6th
Rugby union
North One West
Firwood Waterloo v Northwich
South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two
Winnington Park v Oldershaw
North West Intermediate League
Division One
Northwich 2nd v Blackburn 2nd
Division Four South
Northwich 3rd v Linley 2nd
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