Following on from the RFU announcing the postponement of the start of the community rugby season, Surrey County have now released the amended fixture list. The opening weekend will be 26th September.
The unprecedented number of burst pipes over the last few years led to a nasty drop in the dividends paid to water company shareholders and, not unreasonably, rugby clubs all over England were asked to let their pitches dry-out this summer, and the hope that there might be some natural precipitation in September, ignoring the fact that September can be the driest month. As Cardinal Wolsey, responsible for many roads and plumbing in the Hampton Court area, might have said: "If rugby was played on Thames Street, the pitch would always be moist".
The Met start the season with three away games on the bounce, travelling to Old Whitgiftians, OH Exiles and Old Blues before having the chance to welcome Effingham & Leatherhead to Imber Court on 17th October, a mere week before BST ends.
The planned warm-up games have also been scrubbed but at least there is now plenty of time for players and officials to negotiate the latest rigours of player registration and GMS.
Roll on Autumn...