We ( Bamber Bridge) had until last week gone 5 years without calling a game off due to player shortage, no small feat in a soccer dominated area, especially having over the last 12 months backed up winter to summer without a real break, unfortunately Holidays, Work Commitments,Weddings and Stag Dos conspired against us i'm sure you all have been there at some point, we weren't very happy to lose that record as its one we are very proud of.

This week we were ready to go only for Latchford having similar troubles raising a team due in the main i believe to their Wednesday night game against Bank Quay.

Oh and We had in total 22 players down at the final out of our 26 man squad we used all summer, i know cos i bought them the shirts, the rest were just our loyal bunch of supporters who have never picked up a ball in anger.

See Addlington didn't bother to play another game that they wouldn't expect to be a comfortable win for them.

Cadishead have already conceded the game against Bank Quay on the 29th October, I suppose its better than finding out on the Friday or or the Saturday when the game is due to be played!!

Got to feel for you lads at Bank Quay your gonna be lucky if you play another half a dozen games before march, to be honest I reckon you'll have same problem when the proper season gets underway in march. It's going to be easier for teams to give away an 18-0 than suffer a real drubbing.

We didn't expect the move to summer to run completely smoothly but also didn't expect it to go as bad as this, not only interim fixtures being called off though everything seems in a mess at the moment bar the prem, no one in the NWC seems to know whats going on with regard fixtures the lanc cup etc.

Hindley A have also cried off from playing our A team this week which is again dissapointing.

I believe the RFL have bent a little bit on allowing teams to move from winter to summer in March, with the kick off for league games being delayed until April to allow teams to fulfil fixtures in the winter before moving over. I still don't think all teams on block will move but hopefully a few more come as I believe it is only a matter of time before all teams play a summer comp, certainly in the north west anyway

Thatto Heath Crusaders v Bank Quay Bulls - 2.30pm, Saturday 29th October, Hattons Solicitors Crusader Park, Close St., St.Helens, WA9 5JA

i'll go Bank Quay by 40+