Keighley Cougars have accepted their £2,000 fine from the RFL after having to postpone their game with Dewsbury last month, but co-owner Ryan O’Neill admits they are “very disappointed” with the decision.
The club’s annual Pride fixture at Cougar Park was postponed shortly after the scheduled kick-off time and had to be replayed 17 days later at Keighley RUFC.
Cougars ultimately lost the game 26-16 to the Rams and at the time, O’Neill expressed frustration at Dewsbury’s role in the original game being off.
There was no mention of the opposition in his latest statement, as he spoke to the T&A about the RFL’s decision, which also required Cougars to pay Dewsbury’s travel costs for July 12.
O’Neill said: "The country has been going through an unprecedented heatwave with no rain, which we felt should have been considered, also that a ladies game was played without incident less than 90 minutes prior.
"It would have been more understandable if the referee and match commissioner had arrived earlier, as they usually do if, for example, there is risk of waterlogging, to carry out a pitch inspection.
"But as it happened they only made their decision 13 minutes after the scheduled kick-off time.
"Having looked at footage of other grounds where matches were played that day, some looked much drier than ours.
"The club already lost revenues through gate receipts, hospitality and bar sales, in addition to the actual costs we had on the day for staffing, stock purchases and so on.
"It is a double whammy when we get fined in addition to that.
"Despite our disappointment at the fine, we accept the RFL's decision, move forward, and will not appeal."
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