THIS year is on course to be the worst in the Cherwell League’s recent history in terms of the number of matches that are abandoned due to the weather, writes GRAHAM SCOTT.

The weekend’s near washout means almost one third of the scheduled games have either failed to start or been cut short.

There have already been more matches abandoned this ‘summer’ than in five of the past six campaigns and we are just over halfway.

Recent seasons have been relatively unaffected by the weather, with more than nine in ten matches being completed last summer.

As our table shows, the wettest year was 2007, when 26 per cent of matches did not finish.

The unluckiest teams this season are Brackley and Oxford Downs 3rd, who have each completed only four of their ten scheduled matches.

Both sides have only managed to finish one match since June 2.

Tiddington 2nd, Hanborough 2nd, Cumnor 3rd, Long Marston 2nd, Shipton-under-Wychwood 4th and Kingston Bagpuize 3rd have all have five abandonments.

Division 10’s Shipton 4th have not played since they beat Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 4th six weeks ago.

Year       Aban matches %

2006     127 of 812 16

2007 221 of 848 26

2008 139 of 886 16

2009 80 of 882 9

2010 98 of 864 11

2011 81 of 882 9

2012 152 of 490 31