You can virtually guarantee that this weekend will see several teams slump out of the National Cup by default, quite apart from the four who have already fallen by the wayside by either dropping out of the League, or by becoming ineligible as they moved into the BBL. Every year at this time there are clubs who fail to register players in time, and thus forfeit early matches, and even some who, in the sudden realisation that they have to promote a game, or to transport players, run in the opposite direction instead, never to be heard from again. Spare a thought, though, for Northampton Neptunes, newly promoted to EBL1, whose Cup dreams have been shattered by a series of problems that would unsettle even the most unflappable of administrators. Having had to rapidly alter their season's forward-planning, when they were granted late promotion after the various withdrawals from EBL1, Northampton chose not to enter the National trophy, to give themselves extra time to prepare for the league season, which begins in two weeks' time. Before then they have to visit League newcomers Wellingborough Phoenix, in the first round of the Cup, but undoubtedly felt that they could successfully take on their neighbours, who are just ten miles away, and then continue to enhance and develop their team. On Monday, however, one of their players twisted an ankle, which has sidelined him for three weeks, and then on Friday (the day before the game) another player suddenly quit without warning because he has taken up college! With only one of their non-national players allowed to play in the Cup, a key member of last year's squad still recovering from off season knee surgery, and a few weeks away from being available to play, and another only just having returned from a month's trip away, too late to be registered for this weekend, the Neptunes found themselves with severe problems. In fact, they are reduced to just four registered players who are fit to play! Not wishing to disappoint Wellingborough, and their fans, Northampton will still travel, and play the game, but it can only count as a friendly ... though I'm sure that the Phoenix won't mind at all, as they proudly take their place in the second round!
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