Hollinwood forfeit tie after league and nations clash

RUGBY:

HOLLINWOOD exited the North-West Counties League’s Challenge Bowl after forfeiting their first-round tie at Blackbrook ‘A’.

The Division Three outfit claimed they had an open date last weekend, so players and officials bought tickets for the Four Nations Series final at Elland Road.

The tickets, says Hollinwood’s Fred Halliwell, were purchased “weeks ago” as part of a special Rugby Football League promotion.

There were no fixtures on the day of the Wembley game, but according to Halliwell, the league arranged only recently for the Challenge Bowl ties to be played on November 19.

Halliwell said: “I explained to the North-West Counties League about our situation, but they told us to play the match or forfeit it. We already had 26 signed up for the trip, so there was no way we could field a team.”

Jean Girvin, a member of the North-West Counties League committe, said: “There are no free dates in our league. The draws were made for the Challenge Cup and Challenge Bowl competitions at the league meeting on October 31, and the ties were always going to take place last Saturday. Clubs should never presume it is an open date.”