Rivals fail to turn up for Wyesiders’ party

11:12am Thursday 19th April 2007

HEREFORD Rugby Club's plans for a champagne finale to celebrate their Midlands 3 West (South) title season fell flat when their opponents failed to show for the last game, writes malcolm hughes.

Nuneaton Old Edwardians rang at 11am on the Saturday morning to say that they would not be travelling to Wyeside as one of their props had broken a thumb and they had no replacement.

The Wyesiders coach John Watkins was disgusted by the attitude of the Warwickshire club, saying that fulfilling league fixtures should be the top priority for any club.

He had taken a team to Manchester containing seven third team players when Hereford were struggling in the national league in 1996.

With the league title already assured going into the final fixture, the club had arranged a large sponsorship lunch at the match to celebrate their success and were also expecting a bumper crowd.

In order to prevent the day from becoming a complete let-down, they withdrew their second team from their scheduled fixture at Drybrook - an action they fully accept was not ideal for the game - in order to provide some action. The two sides put on a good show for the crowd of more than 500.

Watkins feels the RFU need to take some bold action against sides who fail to fulfil their commitments, suggesting a club should lose points for the following season, as a deterrent.

It is uncertain whether the RFU will reschedule the fixture or just award Hereford two points with no change in points difference.

Nuneaton OE are already playing a rearranged fixture with Pershore this weekend, so if the match at Hereford is played it will be on Saturday, April 28.

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