KEIGHLEY COUGARS have expressed their frustration at the late postponement of their home clash with Dewsbury, claiming the decision that the pitch was unplayable after days of high temperatures dried it out was influenced by the visitors.
Sunday’s fixture was designated as the Cougars’ Pride match, including food trucks, stalls and singers, with a curtain-raiser women’s game going ahead.
However the Championship contest will have to be rearranged after the call-off, with Keighley claiming they were given insufficient time to rectify the pitch issues after the Fire Service agreed to water the surface.
“That would have ensured the game could go ahead and this was explained to the referee,” the club told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
“The referee agreed to give us 20 minutes for the pitch to be watered, however due to traffic, the fire trucks arrived 13 minutes later, by which point the referee had called the game off and despite best efforts, we announced the postponement.
“While we acknowledge the playing surface was not the best due to high temperatures, we still believe the match could have been played.
“The Cougar Ladies team took to the field in a match against Oldham just 90 minutes before and a Keighley Town football match was played the day before.
“The Cougars coaching staff raised no objections to the pitch, and the Cougars team were in final preparations to play.
“Since their arrival at Cougar Park, the Dewsbury delegation acted in a negative way, actively saying the match should be cancelled.”
Dewsbury declined to comment to totalrl.com on the matter.
The clubs are in contact with the RFL over a new date, but options are limited with no mutual free weekends between now and the end of the regular season in August.