You can't do that much damage in Whitehaven.

Dave Woods does not know the facts and should shut up!

I would also like to say well done to Carl Hall and his team.

You can finish third - but you get the same dosh.

Agree with S/O - well done to Carl and everyone at the club for seeing this one through.

We can certainly watch the last two matches in a different light now we know we've got the three points back.

It would be interesting to know why the RFL imposed the deduction in the first place if all the facts were known to them at that time. I'll look forward to the RFL's explanation.

RFL in common sense shock!, wonders will never cease. COYD

Here's a quote from the RFL official website:

=#0000BFAn Operational Rules Appeals Tribunal has granted the appeals by Batley Bulldogs and Doncaster against the points deductions imposed for breaches of the sport’s rules relating to dual registration.

The clubs were each deducted three competition points at an independent tribunal held on Friday August 15 when they were both found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in Kingstone Press Championship fixtures played on Sunday July 27.

After being presented with fresh evidence relating to previous historical breaches of Operational Rules by other clubs which had not faced similar sanctions, the Appeals Tribunal sitting at Red Hall this afternoon overturned the points deductions.

This seems to suggest we are still guilty but the penalty has been rescinded because previous breaches of a similar kind hadn't resulted in points being deducted.

In all forms of tribunal and appeal what is looked at is that those bringing the disciplinary action have followed to the letter the rules that are laid out by themselves or in other cases the senior governing party.
In nearly all cases of appeal any outcome that is overturned will be on the following.

1) any error within the process leading to tribunal, i.e. not following exact protocol or timescales.

2) where precedent has been set i.e another outcome has been given other than those that are laid out within the process.

This where people get confused with Court Law versus HR / Best Practice Laws as each case whilst taken on merit has to be judged within same parameters.

Thus the RFL's description within the laws on DR is actually well described, outlined and issued to all parties, it has been the RFL's setting precedent on not penalising a team previously that seemingly has fallen into the above.

Not knowing all the facts we may well have had other points to raise - but in most incidents like this it is much easier to challenge and win on the grounds of inconsistency as it suggests prejudice / favouritism.

Hence if you ever face an issue at work you just need to hope that at some point that those in charge fail to follow exact structure.

Simples!!!!

whatever the reasons the Club have done extremely well in being confident to pursue..

He sat down...

no response from Mr Churchill yet,wonder why?

Very pleasing outcome and I will mirror the RL in common sense decision shocker

on a drawing pin

As expected, this isn't going to go away any time soon. While it won't affect us in any particular sense now if the points were taken off us again (although if it was changed to a fine that's a different matter) this issue is not yet resolved. To add to the problem, Batley have not just avoided relegation, they have made the play offs so they have a game this weekend. Is the issue going to be resolved before then? I'd be surprised. keighleycougars.com/club-stateme ... ment-89982

As expected, this isn't going to go away any time soon. While it won't affect us in any particular sense now if the points were taken off us again (although if it was changed to a fine that's a different matter) this issue is not yet resolved. To add to the problem, Batley have not just avoided relegation, they have made the play offs so they have a game this weekend. Is the issue going to be resolved before then? I'd be surprised. keighleycougars.com/club-stateme ... ment-89982

Tell a lie; a three point deduction now would see us drop to fifth

It's a shame that the full facts and reasoning behind the tribunal decision haven't been released.

It appears that the precedent was set last season that no points deduction can be made for this breach - but we're still not 100% sure whether there was a breach or not involving the Dons or Batley.

If we were Keighley fans, I'm sure we'd feel hard done to.

The RFL need to issue a statement of clarification on this as quickly as possible.

This whole saga will be swings and roundabouts from now! Keighley seek legal advice and seek an appeal to then for example points are taken off. Dons and batley go appeal as they had conformation they could play the players. Would then get points reinstated and were back to square one

Give us a 1 point deduction, then wait for the explosion from down the M18..

Just get rid of dual reg next season.

https://www.change.org/p/the-rugby-foot ... etitionelp

https://www.change.org/p/the-rugby-foot ... etitionelp

Keighley plan to take action against their relegation:

[urlhttp://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/11470328.Keighley_Cougars_advised_they_have____strong_case____for_a_legal_challenge_against_the_RFL/?ref=rss[/url

He doesn't even know the name of one of the clubs involved, that's as good as his research is!

A quick question, it could be a semantic issue, but what does the word "cheat" imply to you?

To me it implies a deliberate breaking of the rules; it is has never been suggested anywhere that we ever deliberately intended to break the rules, but that we broke the rules due to a misunderstanding/ignorance of the rules. While the end result is essentially the same; to accuse someone of a deliberate action has further implications.

'Cheating' as Gary Fawcett puts it, is when someone knowingly does something
to gain an unfair advantage, which i think the clubs have not done this knowingly.

Also if they hadn't lost as many matches as they did they would still be in the championship next year.

they should have defended better for the last 10 minutes when they were well in front.

They are a fine one to speak when they have one of the biggest cheats to walk on a rugby pitch.
As in my description of cheating above.

Not mentioning any names!

Have the RFL ever revealed who the five clubs were that were charged with breaches in the 2013 season?

I wonder if there were any implications to last year's relegated teams because of it, and whether those teams raised the issue with the RFL?

I have seen the list, I only remember Whitehaven, York and Leigh were in it...can't remember the others.

Can also remember Keighley weren't one of them.

Whitehaven, Workington, York, Leigh, Gateshead. South Wales have also been named as breaching too.