THE wintry weather has continued to wreak havoc in sport and particularly rugby league, with four of the six round-four Super League matches postponed.

Last night’s televised fixture between Hull KR and Castleford at Craven Park was the first to be called off.

Although the pitch had been protected throughout the week, there were concerns over player welfare with temperatures predicted to reach minus six, with an additional wind-chill factor and it was felt there was a safety risk for spectators.

The match between Wakefield and Huddersfield on tonight, which was also due to be shown live on Sky Sports, was postponed, along with Leeds’ home game against Catalans Dragons and St Helens’ clash with Salford.

Hull KR and Leeds have yet to rearrange their fixtures but Wakefield and St Helens will both try again on Sunday and Sky will switch coverage tonight to Hull v Warrington.

Leeds, who were hoping to play their first game at Headingley since the partial opening of the new south stand and installation of a temporary north stand, made their decision in time to prevent the Catalans boarding a flight to Yorkshire.

The adverse weather has taken its toll on today’s Pro14 Round 17 fixtures with three of the four scheduled matches postponed.

The match between Ulster and Glasgow was the first to go when a decision was made on Wednesday due to the travel implications for supporters, players and staff. It has been rearranged for the weekend of April 20-22.

Threats to travel and the potential of severe weather on the day of the game, which raised health and safety concerns for all those involved, were also cited as the reason for postponing the clash between Edinburgh and Munster at Murrayfield.

The match has been rescheduled for the weekend of March 16-18.

And it was a similar situation at Cardiff Arms Park, with Benetton also unable to travel to Wales from Italy after their flight was cancelled.

Ospreys’ Pro14 game against Zebre in Italy tomorrow also fell by the wayside.

Tomorrow’s English football fixtures began to be affected as Gillingham postponed their League One home game against Rotherham.

In racing, there will be no turf racing in Britain until Sunday at the earliest after tomorrow’s meeting at Doncaster was abandoned.

Today’s meeting on Town Moor was cancelled on Wednesday but clerk of the course Roderick Duncan was hoping for rain tomorrow.

However, those hopes have been dashed and Duncan officially called off the card following a noon inspection yesterday.

“Unfortunately the forecast is saying there’s no chance of rain now and we might possibly have snow until Monday,” said Duncan.

“There’s little chance of the Grimthorpe Chase being saved but there’s a possibility the mares’ Listed hurdle could be moved to Hereford. Conversations with the British Horseracing Authority are ongoing.”

Duncan also looks after Southwell who are due to race today and he said: “I’d be reasonably confident of racing going ahead. We’ve had horses galloping on the track for the previous two days.”

Tomorrow’s meeting at Newbury has also been abandoned.

After losing today’s card on Wednesday, officials at the track were due to inspect yesterday afternoon, but clerk of the course Richard Osgood made an earlier call with no chance of the course being fit for action.

He said: “We now have snow on top of a frozen track and the temperatures are so low there will be no improvement.” Even indoor sport was affected, with the Premier League darts event in Exeter last night unable to go ahead.

The red weather warning also applied to the south-west and left organisers the Professional Darts Corporation obliged to call off the competition.

The PDC said: “The PDC was informed by Westpoint Exeter on Thursday morning that local authority and police advice for the region was for no non-essential travel to take place and there were severe concerns over the safety of spectators and staff both accessing the venue and then leaving after the show.”