NEW Earswick All Blacks ALRC may end up playing "summer rugby" next year by default - having been left with no match for over a month and bemoaning the Pennine League fixture list for a second successive season.

All Blacks' match against West Leeds Eagles last weekend was postponed because of a waterlogged White Rose Avenue pitch, meaning the team have still played only five games so far this season - plus one forfeit - as it heads towards the traditional half-way point.

It also means they will be without a game between their win over Brotherton Bulldogs on November 28 and the league's resumption after the festive break on January 2. This is because several local cup competitions in the Pennines area take precedence this weekend, while league chiefs have decided to shelf all fixtures on the Saturday before Christmas day due to what's known as Builders' Saturday - where construction workers traditionally down tools for festive parties.

All Blacks secretary Paul Pallister reckoned the season - a second stop-start campaign after the various restructures last year - was now destined to go into overtime and run into next summer.

He said: "I can understand why they have not scheduled fixtures for December 19 as a lot of clubs often ask to have a blank Saturday before Christmas for Builder's Saturday. As there have been that many in the past, they've decided to stop fixtures altogether after this Saturday.

"It's more disappointing for us because we don't have as many local cup competitions as clubs in other areas so we don't get a game this weekend either.

"It could all end up with a big backlog of fixtures at the end of the season.

"We've only have six league fixtures so far for one reason or another and, with the lads finishing early for Christmas and with the way it's going, we'll probably end up playing summer rugby next year.

"There should be the fixture turnaround at New Year after the September to December games but things are going to be way behind."

As for the month's absence - plus the return to action 24 hours after New Year's Day - Pallister said: "The players aren't going to be too happy about it.

"We'd really like to kick on this season but it's not been great again and again stop-start like last year. Last Saturday's game was off as well - we've played only three games at home and that was to be our fourth.

"If it (the broken fixture programme) was bad last year, I think it might be worse this year.

"It was hard work last season with all the changes and restructuring and I fear it might be worse this year."

All Blacks' championship division rivals, Queensbuty, are even worse off, having played only three league games so far, the same number as no fewer than three teams in the premier division, generally due to cup commitments and postponements.

Player-coach Jack Stearman added: "This season has been so disjointed, it doesn't allow you to get any continuity. It's pretty frustrating."

Meanwhile, Selby Warriors, who have played eight games in division two, which is more than anyone else, are also without league fixtures this weekend, leaving them with a few weeks to get over their surprise 46-6 defeat to Ck Vikings last Saturday.

Sherburn Bears, who have only played five league games in division four east, are in local cup action, at home to division three outfit Methley Royals in the Castleford & Featherstone ARL's David Poulter Open Cup first round (2pm).