Officials from Luctonians Rugby Club have hit out at Bedford Athletic after they failed to raise a side for Saturday’s visit to Mortimer Park, citing injuries and a lack of availability.
Supporters, sponsors and officials were left fuming after Bedford informed them that they would not be travelling to Herefordshire for the fixture late last Friday afternoon.
The Putnoe Woods side have already had their relegation from the league confirmed and, despite having a colts XV in the National Cup semi final, they were unable to raise a side.
Lucs spokesman Simon Green-Price said: “This is an unprecedented experience for us in the league and shows the desperate state that Bedford find themselves in.
“Where making this call to cancel would have been highly embarrassing for the Bedford officials, I can’t help thinking that they have accepted their relegation and that they felt a trip to Lucs was pointless.
“We will, of course, appeal for reparation of cost for programmes and the loss of gate receipts that will probably come to nothing.”
A decision on the points has yet to be made.
Meanwhile, runaway league leaders Ampthill have been docked 10 points after a disciplinary committee found them in breach of league regulations.
The breach is in relation to Ampthill’s decision to postpone their home fixture with Kettering on February 6 due to a waterlogged pitch, although they are expected to appeal.
The measures mean that Ampthill will be forced to battle it out with Bromsgrove, Hinckley, Longton, Luton Peterborugh and possibly Lucs for top spot.
