OLDHAM Roughyeds’ match against Dewsbury Rams was postponed one year to the day a match against Bradford Bulls at Oldham’s home ground, Bower Fold was cancelled.
A waterlogged pitch lead to the decision, which was made by match commissioner John Holdsworth and referee Scott Mikalauskas at 1:45pm.
Oldham’s 19-year-old loan player from Castleford, Tuoyo Egodo said: “It’s a disappointment really. I was looking forward to it.”
Dewsbury have one of the Castleford boys as well, so it was interesting how we were building up to the game, so with it being waterlogged and the pitch not being suitable to play we were just pretty disappointed that we couldn’t play.”
This years postponement came just 75 minutes before the match was due to kick-off at Bower Fold on Sunday, as a result of a late downpour. Last year, snow and an overnight frost were the causes of cancellation.
Due to the late notice on this occasion, many of Dewsbury’s West Yorkshire based fans had already set off, with some arriving at the ground to the bizarre sight of rugby posts being taken down ahead of Stalybridge Celtic’s next home match.
Today's game may have been called off, but the Rams supporters have still had a good afternoon/evening in Stalybridge! pic.twitter.com/vCTYRQuuvb
— Dewsbury Rams ? (@DewsburyRams) March 5, 2017
In a statement on the club’s website, Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton said: “Initially the pitch was not holding water and we didn’t anticipate a problem.
Rain then began to come down relentlessly, pools began to form, and we were left with no option but to postpone the game.”
The decision was made by the match commissioner and the referee. There was no input from Stalybridge Celtic, who were keen for the match to go ahead, if at all possible.”
This is a contrast to the reversal of the Wigan vs Widnes fixture, when Wigan Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan told the Guardian: “With Wigan Athletic’s season at such a critical stage and after detailed discussions between myself and the Wigan Athletic chairman, David Sharpe, it was agreed they need to play this fixture more than we need to play ours.”
Oldham’s next match is against local rivals Rochdale Hornets. London born Egodo said of that one: “Being on the side not too long, I already know the sort of Rochdale derby that’s gone on. It being another sort of Greater Manchester team.”
It’s one that the fans look forward to and it’s one that the players look forward to as well, so I’ll be out there trying to give it my best and hopefully get the result.”
The match will take place at 3pm on Sunday, at the Crown Oil Arena. Details of the reschedule to the Roughyeds’ fixture against Dewsbury remain unannounced.
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