The big wet affected all club rugby games in the Manawatu this weekend - with most games reduced to a slog in the muddy paddocks. All lower grade Rugby was cancelled as grounds were closed across the province.

Varsity played out at the unfamilier Ashhurst Park, below the spinning Turbines on the Saddle Road, and encountered a muddy water-logged pitch, but put in a sterling first half effort to effectively win the game by half-time.

As the winter solstice nears, we are all awaiting some better weather for the start of the second half of this round. As it stands with such a wet winter, we are quickly running out of grounds to play rugby on.