READING RFC’s first game with new acting head coach Paul Boulard in charge was postponed as a frozen pitch at Sonning Lane prevented any play in the derby against Reading Abbey on Saturday.

The hosts, who sit rock bottom of the South West One East table, were hoping to gain revenge for their 9-8 defeat at Rosehill earlier in the season.

However, referee Max Weston decided the pitch was not suitable for play, stating: “It was unquestionably hard, and I wanted both teams to agree to play. Without that I wasn’t going to blow my whistle to start the game. It was a fair decision not to play.”

A disappointed Boulard admitted after the decision to postpone: “We’d prepared well for this game and the way we saw it was more marginal than Abbey.”

His opposite number Fungai Mutepfa disagreed, though, commenting: “I’m a coach and I take my duty of care seriously. I’ve played on harder pitches as a younger man, but life has moved forward.”

The game will now be played on Saturday, February 4.

Reading RFC visit Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday (2.30pm), while Reading Abbey travel to Witney (2.15pm).

  • BERKSHIRE Shire Hall slipped to a hard-fought 18-11 defeat at table-toppers Faringdon in the BB&O Championship.

They host Farnham Royal this coming Saturday.