It was another wet weekend for Pembrokeshire’s footballers, with just one game out of the scheduled 32 taking place (writes H.G.).

That was played between Solva and Lamphey seconds in division four, with the Stags winning that game 13-4.

Quite how the game took place is anyone’s guess, given the amount of rain that’s fallen over the past month.

Of the 127 senior football matches scheduled to have taken place in January, only 15 have been played; a miserable return in anyone’s language.

Social media has been rife with suggestions on how to put a halt to postponements. No one proclaims to have a magic wand that will stop Mother Nature in her tracks, but some think human intervention can tame her when she’s in one of these wet and wild moods.

One player believes the divisions should be expanded from five to six, therefore reducing the number of fixtures clubs will play so they won’t be affected so much should the weather intervene.

This would work well in practice come the end of the season when teams face numerous midweek fixtures as they play catch-up, but in those rare winters when everything runs smoothly, the season could be over before it’s begun.

Other suggestions include moving the season to the summer and the introduction of 3G pitches, artificial grounds that minimise disruption to the league programme when the weather turns sour.

The idea of having 3G pitches has been mooted for a while and they are starting to crop up around the county, usually on the grounds of new schools being built as part of the 21st Century schools programme.

Currently, there’s one at Gelliswick, although it’s not a full size pitch, thus Hakin are unable to play on it. The New Welsh School in Haverfordwest, Ysgol Caer Elen, is having one installed, as is Pembroke’s Harry Tudor School when that opens in September.

There’s also a chance the new English language School for Haverfordwest may have one.

These pitches could then be rented out to clubs, especially at times when their pitches are unplayable.

There is a stumbling block, however. The price.

It’s believed constructing these artificial pitches, which are made up of artificial grass supported by a thin layer of sand and and an infill of rubber crumb, can cost upwards of £1million.

Throw in weekly and quarterly maintenance bills of around £20k and the costs soon mount up.

These costs can be absorbed by different sports coming together to share the bills, but there is another stumbling block where that is concerned. The rugby 3G is suitable for rugby and football - whilst the football 3G is suitable for football and hockey (difference in pitches is grass length - not perfect for hockey, but acceptable).

You’ve also got to wear studded boots on them or you’ll damage the surface and shorten the lifespan.

With more rain forecasted this Saturday and more postponements in the pipeline, there will be more clamour for 3G pitches, but there’s so much to consider.

The pitches are first class, often described as ‘wonderful things’, but they are expensive to install, maintain and replace and that’s the biggest consideration clubs and communities will have to face.

Fixtures

WWFA Intermediate Cup Fourth Round: Bonymaen Colts v Carew, Goodwick United v Hakin United, Merlins Bridge v Port Tennant Colts.

Division One: Angle v Milford United, Clarbeston Road v Pennar Robins, Herbrandston v Narberth, Monkton Swifts v Neyland, West Dragons v Lamphey.

Division Two: Fishguard Sports v Merlins Bridge II, Hakin United II v Solva, Hundleton v St. Clears, Kilgetty v Prendergast Villa, Lawrenny v Llangwm, Saundersfoot Sports v Letterston, St. Ishmaels v Johnston.

Division Three: Camrose v Clarbeston Road II, Carew II v St. Florence, Manorbier United II v Pendine, Narberth II v Goodwick United II, Pembroke Boro v Milford Athletic, Pennar Robins II v Broad Haven.

Division Four: Broad Haven II v Fishguard Sports II, Lamphey II v Kilgetty II, Llangwm II v Monkton Swifts II, Neyland II v Herbrandston II, Solva II v St. Ishmaels II, St. Clears II v Angle II.

Division Five: Camrose II v Saundersfoot Sports II, Carew III v Lawrenny II, Cosheston AFC v Hundleton II, Johnston II v Milford United III, Milford Athletic II v Letterston II.