The local football programme was badly hit at the weekend as the heavy rain continued in the wettest November for centuries.

Hendon were the worst sufferers. The Dons who recently had their FA Cup game with Dagenham postponed five times, due to a waterlogged Claremont Road pitch, suffered a further double blow. Saturday's home Ryman League Premier Division match with Basingstoke, and Monday's League Cup second round match against Braintree became the latest casualties.

Manager Frank Murphy is s praying for a dry spell to enable Saturday's home FA Umbro Trophy second round match with Worcester City to go ahead.

Said Murphy: "We've played well in recent wins over Canvey Island and Carshalton, but just when you've hit form, the rain returns, games are called off, and you've got to start all over again."

Worcester are seventh in the Dr Martens League Premier Division following their 2-1 away win over mid-table Stafford Rangers on Saturday.

Other Saturday casualties of the continuing monsoon were the matches between Wealdstone and Leatherhead; Horsham and Edgware Town; Epsom & Ewell and Wingate & Finchley.

It was the same sorry tale in Sunday soccer, with only one of the 15 scheduled matches in the Hendon SL being played.

But Parkfield Youth Old Boys were laughing in the rain as they beat Maida Villa 5-0 in a Division Two game.

The rugby players wallowed in the mud, with Barnet Saracens Elizabethans, Finchley, Hendon and Mill Hill all in action.