SWINDON’S Bank Holiday local derby against Somerset was rained off some 30 minutes before the advertised 5pm start this evening.

Initially the match had been put back an hour in the hope that the weather would turn more favourable, but it did not.

As well as being a drain on the club’s finances, the cancellation means that the side has not yet raced four home league fixtures which would, along with the four away meetings already raced, have given manager Alun Rossiter the chance to make team changes.

The next home match sees Rye House in Swindon, but that is not until June 15. The Robins are due to travel to King’s Lynn on Wednesday for what is another tough league match.

Ideally the Somerset match could have been rearranged for this Thursday but Jason Doyle is on Polish Extraliga duty while two Rebels also race on Thursdays for their Championship sides while Patrick Hougaard’s Swedish second-tier side race on the same night.

So it looks as if the re-scheduled meeting may well form part of a double header involving Leicester on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28 with a 3pm start.