A lack of official umpires forced postponement of Saturday's Premier Division KO Cup fixtures between PHC and Southampton at White Hill Field and Willow Cuts and Cleveland at Somerset Cricket Club.

Players from the respective teams showed up but were forced to leave the grounds over an hour later after no umpires turned up.

"George (Francis) had to pull out of the match at White Hill Field because of work commitments and one of the umpires (Esten Curtis) withdrew from the match at Lord's," explained senior umpire Randy Butler, originally scheduled to officiate at Somerset.

"And being the match (at Lord's) was broadcast live, I didn't want to have only one official present. It would've looked bad with only one official present at the match and the umpire only withdrew at the last minute. So I decided to go straight down there" (leaving the Somerset match without an umpire.

When notified over the postponements, Bermuda Cricket Board president Reggie Pearman said: "We'll discuss it later."

However, Cuts' official Keith Lapsley didn't take too kindly to the postponement of his club's match against Cleveland.

"They're (umpires) acting as if they are the only ones who have something to do on Saturdays. A lot of the players have to make sacrifices as well," said Lapsley.

"A lot of the players have family and children who they would like to spend time with at least one day of the weekend but they still make the commitment."

Meanwhile, the state of the pitch at White Hill Field again rose to the fore after it was discovered to be under prepared for the match.

The batting crease at the northern end was quite damp and there were noticeable cracks running throughout the length of the strip and loosened chunks of clay scattered about while the grass on the outfield wasn't cut.

The spacious pitch, this summer's venue for the Western Counties series, came under criticism from PHC player/coach Andre (Doc) Manders only last week after several of his players were struck by deliveries that rose from a good length. PHC wicketkeeper Matthew Lee was hit on the nose.

"We're doing the best we can we with what we have," said Somerset Bridge president Bray Saltus on Saturday.

"We just got a roller on Friday evening. But it's been a setback for us by not having a roller from the very beginning of the season."