Maynard: Why leave it so late?
By Coventry Telegraph
December 9 2008
COVENTRY’S director of rugby Phil Maynard spoke of his frustration after his team travelled to Nottingham yesterday only for their National Division One game to be called off because of a frozen pitch. Referee Lloyd Jackson ruled the Meadow Lane surface unplayable shortly after the visitors arrived at the ground less than two hours from the kick-off, prompting Maynard to question why the
decision was left so late with a 30-metre wide strip along one side of the pitch, sheltered from the sun by the grandstand, frozen hard and showing no sign of softening.
“The annoying part is that we checked twice this morning and Nottingham said they were happy that the game would be safe,” said Maynard. “But one big area of the pitch is solid, and the referee took the view that it is dangerous.
“It’s just very frustrating to have come all this way if the game was never going to be on.
“If there was any doubt about the game Nottingham should have called in a local referee in the morning to look at the pitch. There is a procedure laid down for these situations, and on this occasion it does not appear to have been followed.”
Before the referee made his decision, Coventry had agreed to wait and see if there was any improvement approaching the 3pm kick-off.
“We did agree to have another look half an hour before the kick-off and Nottingham still wanted to play, but the referee just said no for the safety of the players,” said Cov captain Henno Venter. “I do support the referee’s call.”
When the game will now be played is dependent on the progress both clubs make in the EDF Energy National Trophy with, if both sides lose in the fourth round on January 17, the weekend of February 7-8 the first possible free date.