Bees accuse Pirates of plundering points
By Paul Bolton, The Sunday Mercury
March 18 2008
PERTEMPS Bees are expected to take their attempt to claim back three valuable points in their battle for survival in National One to the Rugby Football Union. The Bees claim that Cornish Pirates breached playing regulations during their 27-23 win at Sharmans Cross Road in January by when they opted for uncontested scrums even though they had an unused front row forward
on their replacements' bench.
The Pirates made the call when they had one front row forward sin-binned and another injured and the Bees claim that the decision denied them a significant advantage during that ten minute period.
A first appeal to the board of First Division Rugby ended in the Pirates being docked three of the four points they took from the game though no additional points were given to the Bees, who claimed a losing bonus point.
The Bees submitted a further appeal, which was heard by a panel of FDR members recently, but they supported the initial decision.
The Bees believe that a precedent was set three seasons ago when Coventry opted for uncontested scrums with an unused front row forward on their bench.
Coventry were subsequently docked the points they took from the game, the result was declared as a win to Rotherham who were then awarded four points.
The Bees have now taken legal advice and are expected to lodge an appeal with the RFU's competitions sub-committee who will appoint a panel to make a final decision on an issue that could have a major bearing on relegation from National One.
"We will be taking this to the RFU and we have engaged a solictor who is acting for us," said Bees' forwards' coach Russell Earnshaw. "We have been told that they have changed the regulations since the Coventry v Rotherham game, but the fact that Cornish Pirates were deducted points shows that they were in breach of the rules and regulations."
The Bees argue that league regulations state that in National One clubs must provide sufficient suitably trained and experienced players capable of playing in the front row to cover for the first and second instances of a prop or hooker being injured, sinbinned or sent-off.