Weekend sport programme hit by freezing weather

The weekend’s sporting program has been impacted by freezing weather conditions in the United Kingdom, with the FA Cup and Challenge Cup among the competitions affected.

The UK has experienced the coldest night of the winter, as well as widespread frost, with more severe weather forecast for the weekend.

Saturday’s all- League One third-round cup-tie between Mansfield Town and Wigan Athletic has been called off because of a frozen pitch. It will now be played on Tuesday, 14 January (19: 45 BST).

The Preston North End-Charlton Athletic game, which was previously scheduled for Tuesday week, was lost in the wake of that.

Two League One games have been postponed, Shrewsbury Town against fourth-placed Huddersfield Town and fifth-placed Barnsley’s trip to Northampton Town.

In League Two, the first game to go was Carlisle United’s home game against MK Dons, followed by Port Vale v Barrow.

There are also now just three National League games on out of the scheduled 10 – at Aldershot, Boston and Yeovil.

The fixtures that were scheduled for AFC Fylde, Altrincham, Barnet, Gateshead, Maidenhead, Oldham Athletic and Southend will all be rearranged.

Horse racing has also been severely impacted by the weather, as has been the case all week.

Friday’s meetings at Doncaster, Huntingdon and Lingfield Park are off, leaving only the all-weather evening card at Newcastle.

Saturday also so far has three abandonments, at Kempton Park, Warwick and Wetherby.

Ffos Las, in west Wales, has now agreed to host Wetherby’s £40, 000 Grade 2 two-mile Towton Novices ‘ Chase, which has been moved from Yorkshire to make it an eight-race card – but that is also now subject to an 07: 30 GMT inspection.

Meanwhile, 11 of the weekend’s fixtures in the first round of Rugby League’s Challenge Cup have succumbed to the conditions and have been rearranged for next weekend.

Saturday, 11 January

FA Cup

Mansfield Town v Wigan Athletic

Preston North End v Charlton Athletic

League One

Northampton Town v Barnsley

Huddersfield Town vs. Shrewsbury Town

League Two

MK Dons vs. Carlisle United

Port Vale v Barrow

National League

AFC Fylde v Sutton United

Altrincham v Wealdstone

Barnet v Hartlepool United

Braintree Town vs. Gateshead

York City vs. Maidenhead United

Oldham Athletic v Eastleigh

Southend United v Halifax

Challenge Cup

Crosfields v Maryport

Dewsbury Moor v Haresfinch

Doncaster Toll Bar ARLFC vs. Lock Lane

Mirfield v Royal Navy

Stanley Rangers v Hunslet ARLEFC

Rochdale Mayfield v Telford Raiders

Thatto Heath Crusaders vs. Orrell St. James

Leigh Miners Rangers vs. Waterhead Warriors

West Bowling v Wath Brow Hornets

West Hull v Edinburgh Eagles

Sunday, 12 January

Challenge Cup