Midweek games for Manor Park as the fixtures pile-up

[dutchman]

Manor Park could be forced into midweek action to keep up with their fixture backlog.

The knock-on effect of four Midlands Three West South match postponements already this season has seen all but one of the club's free weekends swallowed up by re-arranged games.

This has, in turn, placed pressure on the club's commitments in the Warwickshire Shield.

Park are due to take on the winners of fellow M3WS outfit Southam or Stoke Old Boys from the division below.

However, both that tie and Manor Park's subsequent game must be played by Sunday, March 2.

"We're in limbo at the moment regarding the Warwickshire Shield," said head coach Lee Maddison. "Until Southam get their game on with Stoke Old Boys, there's nothing much we can do.

"There's a genuine chance of silverware in that competition too so it's a game we would like to get played if we can."

The Warwickshire RFU Competitions Committee has offered to foot the bill for floodlight and pitch use for a midweek fixture – due to Park not having the facilities to allow for midweek games.

The final of the competition is due to take place on Sunday, March 30.

"It's the unfortunate knock-on effect of all the bad weather we've been having," said club fixture secretary Bobby Bridge.

"The Warwickshire Shield is a tertiary commitment coming behind the league and the Midlands Divisional Cups (which Park exited earlier in the season).

"The aim must be in future seasons to get the early rounds of this cup played sooner, perhaps even during the pre-season, to prevent this from happening every season."

In the 2013/14 campaign, Park defeated Claverdon away before being handed another away draw at Shipston-on-Stour – then two leagues higher than the Manor men.

The tie was eventually played on a Sunday, 24 hours after Shipston played a league game – with the hosts winning courtesy of a last-minute score in an eight-try thriller.