Hornets unhappy at big game saga

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Rochdale Hornets chief executive Ryan Bradley has reacted angrily to the scheduling of this weekend’s Challenge Cup third round tie against local amateurs Rochdale Mayfield.

The tie, for which Hornets are still yet to receive notification from the RFL, is set to be organised with just four days’ notice.

Rochdale Hornets chief executive Ryan Bradley said:“The day the draw was made I spoke to Simon Howe, Mayfield chairman, and he said then they wanted to play it at home.

“We offered Spotland as a back-up just in case but it took the RFL until Thursday to circulate a letter detailing the need for a ground safety officer and safety management plans to be put in place.

“The RFL told us a decision would be made on Friday, after giving a 3.00pm deadline for plans to be submitted, but then said a decision wouldn’t be taken until Mayfield had had an inspection this morning, Monday 22 February.

“I went up there today and after a 15-minute inspection was told the ground could hold 2,000 comfortably and that a relevant professional would make all of the calculations necessary and support the club in getting paperwork done and personnel recruited.

“It’s now Monday afternoon and we still haven’t been given the go ahead on the game from the RFL, or a list of dispensations that have been granted.

“We now have four days to prepare for a game which, as a professional outfit, is not ideal and Mayfield have limited time to get their things in place.

“We have missed a massive opportunity to promote the game to the town and give the prestigious fixture the billing it deserves.

“The RFL should have supported Mayfield from the outset to let them know exactly what they needed to do to get it up to code rather than let things drift.” 

Mayfield hope to host the game at their Butterworth Park home ground, on Keswick Street in Castletown on Saturday 27 February.

A large crowd is expected to pack the ground for what is set to be a cracking local derby fixture.