MUCH of the grassroots men’s football and rugby programme was off on Saturday owing to waterlogged and muddy grounds.

One game that did go ahead saw Lydbrook Athletic FC beat Forest rivals Bream Amateurs 3-2 at their Wyeside ground, leaving them fourth in Gloucestershire Northern 2 a point off the promotion spots.

Mitcheldean also won 3-0 at home to Lydney Town A to stay top of North Gloucestershire Premier, Sam Dowle with a brace and one from Thomas Meek.

But Huntley lost a nine-goal thriller 5-4 at home to Broadwell Amateurs 2nds, leaving them fourth.

Ross Juniors’ trip to Yorkley was one sunk by the weather in NG1, alongside Newent Town's home match with FC Kidlington in Hellenic One.

Local rugby teams also paid the price, unbeaten Midlands Two West leaders Newent RFC seeing their trip to Hereford RFC's Wyeside pitch called off, which has been rescheduled to this Saturday ,while Ross RFC's short trip to derby rivals Drybrook was also washed out.

Newent Phoenix managed to play away against Old Cryptians in Gloucester in testing conditions though, and finished the friendly muddied but unbowed as 17-5 winners, with Lucas Holford scoring their try.

Hopefully, normal service will be resumed this weekend with a full round of fixtures.

Football matches scheduled this Saturday (February 22) include – Redbrook Rovers v Ross Juniors, Wantage Town v Newent Town, Fairford Town 2nds v Newent Town Dev, Cheltenham Civil Service v Ruardean Hill Rangers, Frampton United 2nds v Lydbrook Athletic, Harrow Hill 2nds v Mitcheldean, Howle Hill v Ellwood (Weston-under-Penyard), Huntley v Milkwall, Ruardean Hill Rangers 2nds v Westbury United, Longhope v Tidenham, Mitcheldean 2nds v Lydney Town A, Whitecroft 2nds v Ruardean United, Lydbrook Athletic A v Ruardean Hill Rangers A.

Rugby fixtures include – Hereford v Newent RFC, Yate v Ross-on-Wye, Drybrook v Thornbury.