CINDERFORD Rugby Club have rescheduled their home match with Cambridge for Saturday May 7.

Unless the weather turns quickly they face the prospect of playing even more matches in the early part of the summer.

Incredibly, Cinderford have not taken to the field since their 18-10 defeat away at Otley on November 20.

Their last home match was the 18-17 loss to Redruth on November 13.

They've played only five games at Dockham Road this season.

Club secretary John Wood said: "We had a seven week break last year and now we've had another seven week break this year. That's assuming we play our next game at Macclesfield on January 8.

"I've never known anything like it.

"We estimated it cost us around £20,000 last year and we're heading that way again.

"Last year, we lost the England v Australia students game and the Esher match was never even played. We lost a lot of sponsorship on that one."

With few blank dates left on the calendar, Mr Wood is concerned that the season will have to be extended even further into May.

He said: "Obviously we are not on our own, a lot of sports are in trouble. The problem is we can't really rearrange matches in midweek. All of the teams in our league are semi-professional and people have to work. The nearest club to us is Stourbridge."

Lydney Rugby Club also face a difficult extended National League season.

Club chairman John Nelmes said: "There's nothing we can do about it, but the unfortunate thing is we've lost the pre-Christmas match two years in a row. Next year, we'll probably find ourselves playing away.

"The Christmas parties have obviously gone ahead at the club, but the rugby has been at a standstill.

"We've got nine games left to play and less than half of the season to play them in.

"Not only that, but January and February are usually the months when you cancel games because of the weather.

"Many clubs will find it hard to complete their seasons. Something will have to give."

Lower down the rugby pyramid, clubs are also finding it tough.

Berry Hill top the Western Counties North division and have also reached the Gloucestershire Area Final of the RFU Intermediate Cup.

However, they have no idea when they will get to play that match. Lee Osborne said: "It's getting a bit worrying now, both financially and in terms of the fixture backlog. There doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel either."