Big freeze wreaks havoc on fixture list

Frozen pitches was again the major reason for the mass postponement of games right across the country.

As a result many clubs were again left counting the cost for the second Saturday running.

In the Carling Premiership Crusaders' home clash with Portadown, a 3-2 win for the Crues, was the only game to survive thanks to the 4G artificial surface at Seaview.

Irish League chiefs were set to review what has become a grave situation last night (Monday).

The situation prompted IFA President Raymond Kennedy to again advocate a trial run at summer football declaring:

"If it didn't work out we could always go back.

"The postponements have cost clubs a lot of money.

"There are pluses and minuses to a change but I would be prepared to try it.

"You wouldn't have the cancellations that we've had in the last week or so."

As well as football, local hockey and rugby fixtures fell foul of the weather.