Saddleworth optimistic over Leigh fixture furore

RUGBY:

SADDLEWORTH Rangers are confident that they will avoid the ultimate sanction of relegation after appearing before the National Conference League’s management committee next week.

The day after claiming the Standard Cup with a 62-12 victory over Folly Lane, the Greenfield

outfit started their Premier Division fixture at Leigh Miners Rangers fielding only nine men.

A decision was taken to abandon the game midway through the first half at Twist Lane.

If Rangers are found guilty of failing to fulfil the fixture, which was played out in full four days later, they will be demoted to Division One and deducted two points next season. In accordance with the league’s constitution, a fine of up to £500 would also be imposed.

Club chairman Terry Flanagan will now plead his case in front of the committee in Leigh.

“It was a game too far for us,” said Flanagan, whose club were faced with a fixture pile-up of four games in only eight days, inclusive of the Leigh abandonment and the Standard Cup final.

“We had a host of injuries, a couple of late cry-offs and miscommunications, but we went there, started the game and fulfilled our obligations.”

NCL administrator David Lowe told the Chronicle that a final decision on Rangers’ conduct would be taken by May 16. Any appeal would then need to be lodged within 10 days.

Rangers ended the campaign in ninth place in the Premier Division, a season after gaining promotion.