TOMORROW'S World Cup final between England and South Africa has made a sparse local rugby union programme even sparser.

With few re-arranged league matches on what was scheduled to be one of their blank dates, attention was supposed to turn to cup ties in the Yorkshire Shield, Silver Trophy and Vase.

However, the prospect of playing matches after watching England in Yokohama understandably paled and has led to a local wipe-out.

Bradford Salem should have been travelling to Pocklington in the first round of the Yorkshire Shield, while Old Grovians were due to host Leodiensian in the Yorkshire Silver Trophy and both Baildon and Wibsey were scheduled to be at home, to Rotherham Phoenix and Mosborough respectively, in the Yorkshire Vase.

Salem's chairman Neil Klenk explained: "The competition organisers gave us a variety of options, two of which were to go to Pocklington tomorrow or Sunday, but we have poo-pooed these for obvious reasons as we will have been drinking all day Saturday due to the World Cup final.

"Other options were to play it in midweek, which isn't possible due to the distance involved, play it as a double-header league match, which isn't possible as they are in a higher division, or play it on Saturday, November 30, which is the next weekend free of league matches.

"However, we already have a re-arranged league match at home to Beverley on that date which takes priority, so the next chance is Saturday, December 21, but the likelihood with our winter is that we will again have a re-arranged league match on that date."

Old Grovians have given Leos a walkover in the Silver Trophy, while Baildon have opted for a league and cup double-header against Rotherham Phoenix at Jenny Lane on Saturday, December 14.

Wibsey have re-arranged their tie against Mosborough for Saturday, November 30.

Meanwhile, Otley will be in action tomorrow when they travel to Herefordshire to face Luctonians in National Two North (2.15pm kick-off).