Leeds among many snowed under by fixtures pile-up

BRITAIN'S latest cold snap not only caused havoc with yesterday's fixtures but has already bitten into today's.

Only three of 16 soccer matches survived the snow last night, while six of today's, games - including three English FA Cup ties - have already been given the thumbs down.

Leeds are among a string of clubs facing fixture pile-ups after last night's fourth round English FA Cup game at Premiership rivals Bolton was called off.

Howard Wilkinson's men must now visit Burnden Park on Wednesday, February 14th, three days after going to Birmingham in the first leg of their English League Cup semi-final on Sunday.

And if they defeat Bolton, they will face Port Vale or Everton in the fifth round three days later, on Saturday, February 17th.

Vale were due to play host to the FA Cup holders today, but that fourth round replay has already been rearranged for this day week, the same day as Leeds go to Bolton.

Ipswich and Walsall, due, to be played last night and now, twice hit by the weather, will try for a third time on Tuesday, February 13th.

Today's Swindon and Oldham match will now be played next Monday, while Shrewsbury and Oldham have yet to confirm a date after the wipe-out of today's Gay Meadow meeting.

The prospects for today's remaining Cup matches were mixed, with Charlton (v Brentford), Coventry (v Manchester City), Middlesbrough (v Wimbledon), Nottingham Forest (v Oxford) and West Ham (v Grimsby) all hopeful.

Southampton, however, are doe to make a decision on the visit of Crewe at this morning, while Wolves, worried about the conditions on the streets surrounding Molineux rather than the state of the pitch, are set to rule on their match against Tottenham early in the afternoon.

Last night's postponed Scottish Cup third round ties between Morton and Montrose at Cappielow and Berwick and Dundee United at Shielfield have been rearranged for Monday evening, February 12th.

Despite nine inches of snow on fermline are hoping, to clear it in time for today's third round tie against St Mirren, and East Fife also face a snow-clearing operation to stand any chance of staging their third round replay against Caledonian Thistle.

The Premier League clash between Aberdeen and Raith could still go ahead at Pittodrie as conditions are not as bad in the north, but the first division match between Airdrie and Hamilton and the third division games at Albion and Cowdenbeath have already been postponed.

Cumbrian rugby league, clubs Whitehaven and Workington were again frustrated in their bid to play Silk Cut Challenge Cup fourth-round ties against Halifax and Widnes last night - the fourth time each game has been postponed.

The Whitehaven match will now take place on Sunday - possibly at another venue if the Recreation Ground is still not fit - while Workington are hoping their Derwent Park pitch will be playable today.

Neath's Heineken League first division rugby union clash with Aberavon last night also fell victim to the snow. Tonight's two matches Bridgend v Newport and Abertillery v Llanelli are also off

The all weather surface at Lingfield proved its worth yesterday, with racing going ahead at the Surrey track, but meetings at Carlisle and Warwick were called off.

Today's meetings at Ascot and Ludlow have already been postponed and the scheduled meeting at Wolverhampton, where the all weather track is snowbound, has been switched to Southall.

Tomorrow's meetings at Huntingdon and Wincanton are extremely unlikely to pass inspections, while there is already a big question mark against action taking place at Bangor on Friday and Newbury's two-day Tote Gold Trophy fixture (Friday and Saturday).