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 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