Football, rugby and hockey fixtures hit by the big freeze

The big freeze has forced the postponement of a vast majority of sporting events today (Saturday).

Only Grantham Town's Northern Premier League clash at Coleshill and Bourne Town's FA Vase fourth round tie at Sutton United have escaped the elements with both matches going ahead on their hosts' artificial pitches.

The Southern League Premier Division matches involving Stamford (at home to Redditch) and Spalding United (away at Bishop's Stortford) were called off due to frozen pitches along with most of the matches in the United Counties League.

The game involving Deeping Rangers (home to Kimberley), Harrowby (home to Lincoln United) and Blackstones (home to Clifton All Whites) were postponed along with Holbeach's trip to Whitton United in the Thurlow Nunn League.

The rugby also took a hit with games involving Stamford (away at Old Laurentians), Spalding (away at Newbold-on-Avon), Kesteven (home to Lincoln), Bourne (away at Biggleswade), Oakham (home to Rushden & Higham) and Stamford College Old Boys (home to Bedford Queens) being frozen off.

Spalding Hockey Club also postponed all their home games in the East League due to frozen pitches.