Farces are killing the game (From York Press)

Farces are killing the game

10:57am Saturday 3rd September 2011 in Diary By Peter Martini, peter.martini@thepress.co.uk

IT wasn’t wholly surprising that Sky Sports should pick a relegation match for live coverage on the last week of the regular Championship season – but the fact it had to be brought forward to Thursday night means it ends a bizarre and irregular campaign, as regards its format, in a suitably bog-eyed way.

And that’s without even mentioning the Crusaders farce. Oh, or the Toulouse one, which I nearly forgot.

Dave Woods has long criticised the unfairness his York City Knights side faced in having to play Hunslet twice at the beginning of the season and Halifax twice near the end, as well as Widnes just days after their Super League licence was granted, and in having to travel all the way to Toulouse as part of an Easter double-header.

Now we can add to that disparity the fact that York and Hunslet get the dubious advantage of knowing how relegation rivals Dewsbury have ended up before they kick off their all-important (well, probably all-important) concluding games.

The Rams’ last game of term, at home to Leigh, was brought forward for TV coverage – against their wishes – even though it is always argued that if there are promotion, title or relegation issues at stake going into the last game, then all involved should play at exactly the same time.

But then rugby league never does things straightforwardly.

In the end, Dewsbury are definitely down – although had it not been for a late Leigh try denying them a bonus point, the already complicated relegation picture could have been even more complicated.

But even this questionable administrative decision over TV games pales into insignificance when you look at the overall format of a season which could feasibly have ended with the utterly bizarre outcome of the team finishing bottom getting promoted, and another team winning the title on the back of a relegation battle.

The most exasperating aspect, of course, is the fact the Knights and Hunslet have headed into a potential make-or-break weekend not knowing if either of them are actually to be relegated along with the Rams. In fact, it was only this week that it was confirmed anyone would go down at all.

This, of course, all depends on whether Crusaders, following on from their shameless last-minute withdrawal from the Super League franchise system (which itself is looking more and more fallible with every passing day), are dropping into the Championship or not.

Knowing the parameters for relegation before the season starts, not once it has finished, one would have thought was a basic for any professionally-run league.

Okay, Rugby Football League chiefs have had two difficult situations to contend with – the Crusaders sham and the Toulouse circus – both of which have a knock-on effect on the Championships next year.

But these farces have come largely from their own making, both being ill-thought and ill-judged gambles with rugby league expansion. The RFL’s penchant for making things up as they go along doesn’t help, either.

At least we now know for sure that Toulouse (who were exempt from relegation anyway, don’t you know, even though they’re bottom) won’t be playing in England next year, that whole idea being embarrassingly aborted.

But only at 4.30pm yesterday – half an hour before their deadline – did Crusaders submit their application to play in the Championship, a decision on which will be made “within 14 days” according to the RFL.

We know two clubs will definitely come up from Championship One (although this, too, could be a recipe for farce as title-winners Swinton don’t yet have anywhere to play next year as Salford’s Willows ground, which they’ve been borrowing, is soon to close down), and we know three Championship clubs are exiting in three different directions (Toulouse to France, Widnes to Super League, and now Dewsbury to Championship One). But what other movement will there be?

York must still prepare for their last game, at Sheffield tomorrow, believing two will go down. In that case, they will need to do better than Hunslet on the day to be certain of staying up. If only everything was as straightforward as that.

If they do not, they could face the bizarre prospect of being relegated despite having won more games than their rivals. (York currently have five wins and Hunslet four, but Hunslet have more bonus points from losing games by 12 or fewer points and are ahead on points-difference.) Confused by all this? You will be in a minute when you think about what could have happened under the wacky regulations this division is played in.

Let’s say Widnes finished bottom. But they have won a Super League franchise so they get promoted, not relegated.

Then let’s say that Halifax were actually given a Super League licence too, having likewise applied for one, and they finished just above Widnes.

Let’s then say Toulouse, who can’t be relegated as that would be too simple, finished third from bottom.

Assuming two of the 11 teams go down, that basically means the two teams who finish directly below the six-team play-off zone get relegated.

Now let’s say the season had York, Dewsbury and Hunslet battling to beat the drop, and York just about survived (like Hunslet could do) thanks to bonus points, despite having won fewer games than the other two.

In doing so, they break into the play-offs, and, how about this, they win the knockouts and with it the title. Hurray for York. Champions and drop-zone escapists all at the same time.

Hard to believe? Probably.

Hard to follow? Almost certainly.

But possible? Afraid so.

Bloody ridiculous? Yes.

At least it isn’t possible to get relegated and win the title in the same season. Unless I’ve got my sums wrong and league chiefs have figured a way to do that too.

Unfortunately, it is this kind of shambolic charade that means fans of lower league clubs are drifting away from the game, with considerably fewer being attracted to it.

Just try explaining how all this works to a football fan and you’ll see what I mean.

Maybe RFL chiefs should try doing likewise as they currently seem oblivious to the damage such convoluted, make-it-up-as-you-go-along nonsense is doing to what should be a straightforward sport on and off the field.

• DEWSBURY boss Warren Jowitt echoed the thoughts of many fans disillusioned with the way the game below Super League is run when quoted in trade paper League Express.

He has called for the RFL to make sure the uncertainty over this season’s relegation issues, concerning not only Crusaders but also Toulouse, never happen again.

And that is without mentioning the notion that preferential treatment expansion clubs like Crusaders get over heartland clubs, however well meant, could arguably do all of them, and the game as a whole, considerable damage.

“Who knows what the league will come up with,” said Jowitt, speaking before the Rams’ defeat to Leigh confirmed their relegation.

“Super League seems to have broken away now but at least everyone knows what’s going on each year, and you have to buy into the licence system if you want to go up.

“Our division and the division below needs a proper structure so that it’s not different every year.” (Not different every year? You must be joking.) As for the Toulouse affair, he added: “People are falling out with the game because of things like this.”

• THE Knights will hold a presentation evening for their under-18s extended scholarship team on Friday, September 16 – with the event doubling up as a fundraising race night run by supporters.

It will be in Bar 13 at Huntington Stadium, starting at 7.30pm, with awards presented for Players’ Player and Coaches’ Player of the Year.

Profits from the following race night will be split between funding the extended scholarship next season and the Knights’ squad builder fund.

Entry is free and all Knights fans are invited. Anyone interested in sponsoring a race, for £25, can phone the Knights on 01904 767404.

• THE York Independent Supporters’ Club will hold a fundraising Super League Grand Final and race night event at Huntington Sports Club on Saturday, October 8.

It starts with the televised Grand Final at 6pm, followed by eight races, a chicken and chips supper and, if time, a karaoke to finish.

Tickets cost £5 for adults and £3 for under-16s (accompanied by an adult) and are available from the Knights office in Roland Court, phone 01904 767404. All proceeds will go to the squad builder fund.