With the current bad weather, many clubs will now have 4 games outstanding.
We still have, potentially, 6 free Saturdays until the end of season, as follows:
Feb 12 & 26
March 19
April 2, 23 & 30
(These dates include Easter Saturday but do not allow for a playoff game)
Possibly there may be a 7th Saturday if RFU designate May 7 to be included.
However, the weather has been grim and we may have more in the New Year, which will lead to further postponements.
Consequently, I thought I ought to keep you informed of what could happen so that you can give me your thoughts and preferences
There are the following possibilities:
1) Some outstanding games are played mid-week in April or even March for those clubs with floodlights.2) The season is extended so that we finish the league programme in May (will need RFU approval for this)
3) Priority is given to games which are likely to affect promotion and relegation and mid-table games are not played.
4) The league programme is not finished and positions in the league are calculated based on results earlier in the season.
I will take it as read that most of you will want to avoid 4) above, but if any of you are willing to accept this option, then please let me know.
What I propose is as follows:
1) towards end of January, I assess what games are outstanding and for first free Sat (Feb 12th) I try to make up 6 games where the opponents are geographically separated by some distance. (There can only be 6 games because Bridlington are involved in National Cup – so one team in Yorkshire 1 will not play that day)
2) the same may have to happen on Feb 26th.
3) Thus, the majority of games still outstanding will be between teams who are geographically close and so the possibility of playing these midweek in April will be the preferred option, with the aim of completing the league fixtures by the end of April.
4) These proposals will mean that ALL games postponed on Nov 27 will not necessarily be played on Feb 12th and similarly for Dec4/Feb 26; Dec11/ Mar19 and Dec18/Apr2.
