Sporting programme hit hard

Wintry weather has led to widespread postponements across a variety of sports this weekend.

Hornchurch saw their Conference South clash at Chelmsford City called off yesterday afternoon following an afternoon pitch inspection.

The two clubs will now meet at Melbourne Park on Monday March 11.

Romford’s Ryman Division One North trip to Soham Town had been cancelled earlier in the day, with snow having fallen in Cambridgeshire earlier in the week.

Upminster Rugby Club’s trip to Norwich also fell victim and is expected to be played on February 2, with Romford & Gidea Park’s home meeting against Colchester also wiped out.

Hockey matches involving Havering, Romford and Upminster teams could not escape the big freeze and even the National Indoor Club finals, where Coopers pupils Phoebe Menear, Emily Holmes and Natasha Patient were due to represent Old Loughts under-16s, have been cancelled.

The Essex Schools Cross-Country Championships at Gloucester Park have also been rearranged and indoor athletics events have been cancelled, due to the potential for travel disruption.

It remains to be seen whether or not Romford Raiders are able to play ice hockey fixtures against Streatham and Invicta this weekend.

Hornchurch, Killerwhales and Romford Town Swimming Clubs are due to compete in the pool, but Town’s Elena Sheridan saw her hopes of competing for GB at the Flanders Open in Belgium shattered when her flight was cancelled yesterday.

Dagenham & Redbridge’s League Two clash at Wycombe is still set to go ahead, after a morning pitch inspection, while West Ham are due to entertain Premier League rivals QPR at Upton Park.