Club rugby still likely to stay in cold storage

SCOTTISH club rugby's fixture card looks set to be hit hard by the weather again this weekend, with snow in many parts of the country rendering the recent thaw meaningless.

Football appears to be faring better, with only one of the 21 senior matches postponed so far, although at least seven pitch inspections have been arranged today. And, in the SPL, concern was expressed last night about the roads surrounding Rugby Park, which could place a doubt over the Kilmarnock v Motherwell match tomorrow.

In the First Division of the Scottish Football League, there are inspections today at Ross County v Queen of the South (10am), Ayr United v Airdrie (12.30pm) and Morton v Inverness (2pm).

In the Second Division, inspections take place at Clyde v Alloa Athletic (1pm) and Stirling Albion v Peterhead (1.15pm), while in the Third Division inspections are scheduled for Elgin City v Annan Athletic and Forfar Athletic v East Stirlingshire (both 10.30am). The Albion Rovers v Livingston match was called off yesterday, and the Cliftonhill club's Active Nation Scottish Cup match against Stirling Albion on Monday is in danger of postponement for the third time.

Tonight's Heineken Cup matches involving Glasgow and Edinburgh are expected to go ahead. The undersoil heating at Firhill should ensure the Glasgow v Newport Gwent Dragons match goes ahead, with no problems experienced at the Partick Thistle v Dundee United cup tie last weekend.

In Belfast, the match between Ulster and Edinburgh is expected to go ahead following the rise in temperatures, with Ulster having used frost covers overnight this week.

Last weekend no matches went ahead in any Scottish Hydro division, and many of tomorrow's club rugby fixtures up and down the country have gone already. Three Premier 1 matches have been postponed with one other looking doubtful. There is hope, however, that Edinburgh Accies v Boroughmuir and Stewart's Melville v West of Scotland will survive.

Heavy snowfall in the Borders yesterday forced the postponement of Selkirk v Currie and Melrose v Ayr, while Old Anniesland is unplayable for Glasgow Hawks v Watsonians.

Dundee HSFP hoped earlier yesterday that the snow and ice on their Mayfield pitch may have cleared for the visit of Heriot's, but a further snowfall in the afternoon may cause postponement today.

Raeburn Place will be inspected this afternoon, with the Edinburgh Accies v Boroughmuir match threatened by a frosty patch on the pitch. The stand pitch at Inverleith, home to bottom club Stewart's Melville, was playable yesterday and the club are very hopeful that they will get their match on.

In Premier 2, two matches – GHA v Hawick and Gala v Aberdeen Grammar – are already off, while the other four could go as early as this morning if conditions at the various grounds did not improve overnight.

Peebles and Kelso have discussed the idea of moving their Borders derby to Sunday to beat the weather, but both days look doubtful for the Gytes pitch.

Dunfermline's pitch at McKane Park remains very wet ahead of the visit of Kirkcaldy, Biggar's Hartreemill is struggling to be ready for the Stirling County match and Jed-Forest v Haddington is all but off.

In racing, meetings at Musselburgh have been cancelled both today and tomorrow, leaving the track without action since 7 December. The next scheduled fixture at the track is 26 January.