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Cup call-off defended by Hamilton
Reporter: CHRIS LYNHAM
Date online: 16 January 2012
OLDHAM RL Club chairman Chris Hamilton hit back after Rochdale Hornets director of rugby John Stankevitch branded yesterday's Law Cup postponement a "total embarrassment".
The annual showdown was called off for the third time due to a frozen playing surface. Roughyeds then pencilled it in for Wednesday night, but Rochdale were unwilling to commit to that.
Yesterday a pitch inspection four hours before the game was due to start established it would not be possible for the contest to go ahead, which led Stankevitch to post a message on his Twitter account.
He said: "Hornets v Oldham off for the third time. Total embarrassment. Maybe Whitebank facilities need looking at?"
But Hamilton defended his corner, saying: "The comments are unhelpful, misinformed and ill-advised."
The chairman remains hopeful the fixture will take place. He added: "We still have time to get it done before the start of the season. We suggested Wednesday but Rochdale were reluctant and will discuss it at a board meeting tonight.
"Naturally it was very disappointing when the match had to be postponed again, especially because we had monitored weather forecasts and it hadn't been predicted.
"We were still hopeful at 10am because the sun was out, but by mid-day it had gone in and it was a bit cloudy.
"Within seconds of setting foot on the pitch in the afternoon it became clear that it was not going to be playable."
Comments
who do rochdale hornets think they are, as if there pich at rochdale would have been any better in those conditions, all well and good this rochdale official blabbing his mouth off on his super twitter account, saying the facilities at whitebank need looking at, roughyeds are well aware of the problems at the whitebank and are doing there very best on a very poor income to resolve the ongoing problems, so message to the hornets staff , get off the roughyeds back and do your talking on the pitch.
Irrespective of whether the details for calling off the match were right or wrong, why should an official of another club (ie John STINKevich) make his complaint public instead of doing it in the correct fashion by discussing it with either the Oldham club or the Rugby Football League ?
If I was in charge of the Oldham club I would now be making a formal complaint to the RFL about this official making such a public comment, because, after all, the RFL have inspected and approved the ground.
For the record oldhamtinker, Rochdale's pitch is in great shape with no postponements all winter. The reason the club couldn't commit to Wedsnesday was probably because a lot of the players will be working and they need to check availability, simple. I agree that John Stankevitch' comments are out of place but don't all sportspeople now?? Lets do all we can to get this game on, Rugby isn't Rugby withoute the Law Cup game!! Make it happen!!
for [the record] proud_rochdalian , unless spotland as under soil; heating , which to my knowledge you aint, on this day of oldham postponed this game, as the whitebank pitch was frozen , can you say your fantastic , great shape pitch was not frozen, me thinks its was.As you say lets get this game on so oldham can retain the law cup.
Have Your Say
That's very nice of Stankevich to write Tony Bensons team talks for him !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By torquay roughyed @ 16/01/2012 16:10:03