BASINGSTOKE rugby club's preparations for their double-header weekend have been thrown into turmoil after rivals Havant made a bid to postpone their crunch Hampshire Cup clash.

'Stoke were due to play Havant on Sunday in a repeat of last year's Hampshire Cup final, just 24 hours after the Down Grange side's home division three south clash with Barking.

But because Havant are not prepared to play two matches this weekend, they have appealed to the Hampshire RFU to postpone the eagerly anticipated local encounter until a later date.

A Hampshire RFU competitions committee was meeting last night to decide whether to sanction the postponement after 'Stoke launched a counter-appeal to keep the fixture as scheduled. Their decision was set to be announced to the two clubs this morning.

But Havant's stance has provoked an angry response from Down Grange with director of rugby Ian Calder slamming the club and Hampshire RFU chiefs for contemplating the 11th hour reluctance to play the match.

Calder blasted: "We have known what the situation was going to be ever since the draw was made six weeks ago. Playing two matches in a weekend is not ideal but we are willing to accept it and don't see why Havant should not.

"If that is their attitude towards the game and the competition then tough. They should forfeit the match. It's their choice not to play the game.

"We have been looking forward to this match ever since the draw. Knowing we had to play three games in eight days we have deliberately not used players such as Nigel Hooker, because we knew we would need them over this period.

"It is outrageous that in the days running up to the game they want to postpone and get out of the fixture. It should be honoured.

"The Hampshire RFU are bending over backwards to accommodate Havant and their wishes when we are the holders of the trophy!

"You have to ask questions. Would they be willing to accommodate us if we said we didn't want to play the match? When you see that the Hampshire RFU made Gosport play on a Saturday and Sunday in order to fulfil an Intermediate Cup match, you get the answer."

The logistics of re-scheduling are even more problematic, given 'Stoke do not have a free weekend until the new year.

'Stoke chairman of playing John Byett, who has been in negotiations with the Hampshire RFU over the matter, said: "We still want to play the fixture this weekend and have appealed to the RFU to keep it that way. The Hampshire Cup is a competition we have treated with respect and we have always fielded a strong side.

"But it appears that will count for nothing if Havant get their way. We put forward a February weekend in the new year when we could play, but the Hampshire RFU rejected that.

"It has been a very frustrating situation to be forced into. We are just two days before the game and it is still all up in the air."

In their proposal, Havant want to play the match when the two sides are scheduled to meet in the league on December 21. If that is agreed by the Hampshire RFU, the league result will count in the cup.

Havant chairman of rugby Adam King responded to the furore by claiming: "Our resources are stretched and we wouldn't be able to cope with two games.

"Our priority is staying in the national league - as I am sure is Basingstoke's. I am surprised to hear that they wanted to play in the cup this weekend because I understood they wanted to play the game in February.

"But it is out of both clubs' hands now and it is up to the Hants RFU to settle this dispute."