Leigh East, from being Premier League Champions just a few years ago found themselves in mid table in Division 2 after a poor season in 2013. The 'decline' came about following their relegation to Division 1 and their subsequent relegation to Division 2 within one week- a punishment imposed by the National Conference because East had failed to fulfil a fixture at Skirlaugh on the scheduled date. They lost a lot of players, who obviously wanted to continue playing at a higher level, there was discontent in the dressing room and also off the field too and leading officials left. I wish the Club well in their efforts in 2014 to regain what they had and bring the crowds back to Ledgard Avenue.
I have an important point to make. Towards the end of this season Siddall 'won' an exciting play off game at West Hull by a golden point drop goal - except the National Conference Management Committee decided the referee had made a mistake by operating the golden rule point at that stage of the game (he should have been playing 20 minutes extra time) and ruled the game between the two sides should be replayed. Siddall refused to go for the re-match, for a variety of reasons and therefore West Hull got a bye into the next stage of the play offs. It seems to me they have committed the same crime as Leigh East by not fulfilling a fixture when ordered to do so. I for one await the findings of the NC Management.......good luck guys.

Right, I know all there is to know about this, and Tom the ref is the ONLY one at fault here.....The extra time rules were explained verbally, by E-mail, and people were reminded on the day as well

Golden point was NEVER an option, hopefully the Ref concerned will be relegated to junior fixtures from now on, as he brought not just the play offs, but the WHOLE season to a farcical end!!

Siddal have every right to feel aggrieved, as the options regarding all outstanding fixtures were at best shocking, and at worst pathetic!

Don't get me wrong, I have every sympathy with Siddall - absolutely. They made the right stand in most peoples eyes, mine too, They won fair and square according to the referee and that should have been enough for the NC Management. The referee probably made some inaccurate decisions during the game, the odd forward pass, knock on or ball steal but these decisions were accepted by both sides. The mistake he made over the golden point should have been accepted too by both Clubs and the NC Management.

Siddal should not be punished, they had a valid reason for not accepting a replay purely on player welfare; three games in eight days at the end of the season is ridiculous. The NCL management should have had the balls to accept that Siddal won the game played by the rules agreed at the time, West Hull's appeal should have been thrown out.

But it wasn’t, and they were told when they had to replay the game and refused, precedent was set and they should be punished in the same way as East was.

"OP1.23 Any Club failing to fulfil a League or Grand Final Series Play Off fixture =#FF0000without an explanation which satisfies the Management Committee may, in addition to being relegated from its respective division at the conclusion of the playing season, be fined up to £500."

The highlighted area gives the NCL their Get Out Of Jail Card, they can accept that Siddal, considering the welfare of their players after a long hard season, thought it unreasonable to be expected to play three games in 8 days. If they don't accept it then they are not fit for purpose. This situation is nothing like the self inflicted Leigh East one.

Seems to me as it was a playoff game the only losers here are Siddal as they declined the offer of a replay. That was their decision and should be the end of the matter.

No other teams have been prejudiced by Siddal's decision.

Must admit I don't follow the amateur game as closely as maybe I should, but isn't 3 games in 8 days quite a common thing when teams are trying to catch up with postponed games and the like?

I'm sure Keith will put me right but I think when Leigh East won the league and the Grand Final in 2010 they played the European Challenge in France and got to the final of the BARLA National Cup final too so I think at some points in the season they often had a daft run of games.

Siddal fined £500 and remain in Premier Division.

A bit of common sense imo as it would have cost them something similar to pay their transport to Hull for the replay.

£500 Fine - sounds reasonable in view of the circumstances, I wonder how much the referee was fined for the 'bollock' he dropped that caused all the problems.