NB This article was written after the cancellation of last week’s match on 30th November. With the news that today’s match on 7th December has also been called off, it has been slightly edited – so beware the potential consequences of no rugby action!

Players and supporters are all affected and need to find other options to fill the gap. I have deliberately left out the names of people below but am sure they can easily be identified within the various categories. Apart from one named person of course, for obvious reasons.

Planned blank weekends are just about acceptable when you know in advance that there is no game and can make other arrangements. But when the match is cancelled at short notice due to adverse weather conditions, what are the alternatives?

• Some players were on the long-term injury list and so were already resigned to not playing.
• Others knew that they were already unavailable due to work commitments, for example in manning stalls in the Xmas Market.
• Some have recently had the pleasure of a new baby and so welcomed the gap.
• Others were carrying niggles and perhaps nearing the end of lengthy careers, so the enforced rest provided an opportunity to ease aches and pains in readiness for the next weekend’s action.
• Some already had a contrived excuse for their unavailability, which they can now keep up their sleeve for another time.
• The wives of others greeted the sudden availability of their husbands as a chance for them to catch up on odd jobs or help out with the children.
• Others were roped in for unexpected Christmas shopping or, heaven forbid, aimless wandering through the crowds and sheds at the Xmas Market.
• Some saw the chance to watch the final Autumn International; some got tickets for the Bath match on the Rec; others went to the pub.
• Some scoured the other local fixtures to maybe watch one of the other teams in action.
• Did anyone not tell their wives the game was off and just go out anyway for the afternoon on their own, I wonder!
• Some pose meaningless random quiz questions about favourite sitcoms on WhatsApp, gathering hundreds of responses which almost break the internet.
• Without a match report to write, one writes strange articles to relieve the tedium.

But to return to the point of this story, there was another extreme approach. A dangerous outcome of playing inactivity revealed itself last weekend. At a loose end, with spare time on his hands, unable to unleash his pent-up energy on the pitch, or to down a few beers in the clubhouse afterwards, an overwhelming urge presented itself.

On a craggy outcrop, with the waves pounding the rocky coastline, providing a memorable background, he suddenly slipped on the treacherous surface and found himself kneeling down. Attempting to rise, he managed to move on to one knee and reached a hand out for assistance. Suddenly, the famous words formed on his lips and the question was posed. All that remained was the wait for the positive response, thankfully soon forthcoming.

Fortunately, with great foresight, a ring had been cunningly concealed and once presented, their engagement was complete.

To end on a sensible note, many congratulations to Iain Parris and his fiancée Charlotte. Wishing you both best wishes for a long and happy future together from all at Avon rugby club.