HORDES of balls remained un-kicked, a multitude of passes went begging, and the harsh cry of the ref’s whistle remained remarkably mute last weekend as sporting fixtures all over Monmouthshire were decimated by Saturday’s storms.

Fingers are crossed and weather forecasts are scanned religiously for the promise of a game this weekend, but at the moment it doesn’t look too promising, as a gang of unruly clouds and mocking shower of elemental uncertainty gathers on the horizon.

According to the mavericks at the Met Office, a red weather warning means ‘Take Action’, an amber warning means ‘Be Prepared’, a yellow warning means ‘Be Aware’ and a green warning means ‘No Severe Weather.’

Yet you can see from this poignant picture snapped last Sunday at Swan Meadows in the wake of the previous night’s gales and gusts, a green light on the floor means old man winter is definitely on the rampage in a most severe way.