THERE were a few disgruntled players at Huntington Stadium on Thursday night after the reserves match against Featherstone Rovers was called off at pretty late notice.
Jack Stearman was one. The 24- year-old prop, who is also a community rugby coach and manager of the club’s U18s side, was due to return from a month on the sidelines.
However, a deluge in the afternoon saw the game called off due to a waterlogged pitch just an hour before kick-off. The decision was made by Leeds referee Mark Craven.
Said Stearman of the playing surface: “It was worse when the under- 18s played Oldham and it was worse when the first team played Sheffield in the televised game.
“We were about to go out to warm up, all ready in the changing rooms, when Ian Wilson came in and said the ref had called it off. We were shocked.
“The under-18s trained on it and the first team trained on it, and we (the reserves line-up) even had a session on it when the game should have been going on.”
Stearman, who has yet to play for the first team this year, added: “There was myself and Prycey (Waine Pryce) coming back from injury as well. How are we supposed to get in contention for the first team if we can’t play?”
General manager Wilson said: “Each referee is different. Some referees would have been fine with it, but others not.”
He added that the club expected tomorrow’s Championship match against Swinton Lions to go ahead.
“It (Thursday’s postponement) was because of the weather beforehand.
Most of the water had gone (yesterday) and the forecast is better for the weekend. It’s not supposed to rain as much (today) and it’s dry (tomorrow). The pitch maintenance company are doing some work on it as well.”
• KISS, the Knights’ Independent Supporters’ Society, are holding their annual barbecue and disco event at the Huntington Sports Club on Saturday, June 23, starting at 8pm.
Tickets will be on sale from Ian Hick in Bar 13 ahead of tomorrow’s game and then in the John Stabler Popular Stand during the match.
(He’s the chap usually with the drum for those who don’t know).
They cost £5 per person, and children are welcome. A splendid do is promised, and all proceeds will go to the Knights’ squad builder fund.
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