Miles make no sense

Fred Halliwell . . . called-off last Saturday’s game because he couldn’t raise a team

RUGBY:

HOLLINWOOD will once again be kicking their heels in the Pennine League this weekend.

After being unable to raise a team for the trip to Wetherby Bulldogs last Saturday — Hollinwood only had eight men — this time their opponents are struggling for numbers.

Bottom team Slaithwaite Saracens ‘A’ have already announced their inability to fulfil the fixture and have asked officials fot time-off to regroup.

With no matches for the next three weekends, the Fields New Road club has to wait until January 4 for its next game.

Hollinwood secretary Fred Halliwell said: “We had no option but to forfeit the game against Wetherby because of work commitments and Christmas coming up and other things. There isn’t the commitment there used to be.

“I must have gone through 40 players so far this season. You are only allowed 30 signed on at any one time and I can’t remember the times I’ve crossed off players and added players to the list.”

Halliwell (74) had to go before the Pennine League management committee in Brighouse on Monday to explain the club’s situation.

He said the amount of travelling involved — seven of the division’s clubs are more than 50 miles away — meant players were finding it hard to leave work early enough to get to games. The league said they may look at a system where clubs are put in regions next season to try to avoid this problem.”