THE British Amateur Rugby League Association have come under fire from another York club, this time for 'nearly wrecking a fund-raising gala day'.

New Earswick All Blacks ARLC chairman Charles Rollinson said their junior gala on Sunday came close to being postponed for a second time after BARLA refused at 40 hours' notice to supply referees.

Rollinson described the decision as 'disgraceful' and called for some BARLA officials to stand down.

The furore stems from the insurance crisis in amateur rugby league, which - as reported by the Evening Press - arose after BARLA's insurers hiked up premiums. This saw the Yorkshire Junior League and Youth League withdraw from the governing body, a move which meant that insurance covering all BARLA clubs was temporarily invalid and saw all amateur matches 11 days ago postponed, including All Blacks' gala.

That gala was rescheduled for Sunday but BARLA decided that, as the YJL have not yet returned to the fold, the governing body's referees were not insured to officiate at matches involving YJL clubs.

However, All Blacks were only informed that this ruling also incorporated club galas 40 hours before the seven-a-side event was to take place. In the end, junior coaches and committee men took up the whistle.

Rollinson said: "Late on Friday afternoon, (BARLA secretary) Nicky Layton told York and District officials not to supply referees for the gala. We were told at Friday tea-time.

"I would say it is disgraceful to try to stop a kids' competition, which is a club's main fund-raising event of the year, at such short notice.

"BARLA should not have put the event in jeopardy like that. I don't think there was any need to do so when you consider what kind of event it was."

BARLA have already come under fire from Heworth ARLC press officer Ken Sykes for their handling of the insurance crisis, and now Rollinson has joined the dissenters.

"There are good people at BARLA but some should think about standing down," he said.

"It's become political, with people trying to score points, and that type of thing is harming junior rugby and it's the kids who lose out."

BARLA vice-chairman Spen Allison, a former All Blacks chairman, said: "A decision was taken on at BARLA's executive meeting that, because the YJL are no longer members, the referees would not be covered by insurance.

"I have to support the BARLA line but I personally think it was a bit over the top.

"It's a great shame we've reached a situation which could be stopping kids playing the game. Some people want their heads knocking together.

"The gala was being held to raise money to pay insurance fees and if All Blacks could not do that it might have forced them to fold.

"What would we have achieved then?"

Allison added that the Yorkshire Youth League have returned to BARLA and talks were ongoing with the YJL.

Updated: 12:11 Wednesday, September 18, 2002