Risborough take appeal to RFU after points penalty (From Bucks Free Press)

Risborough not ready to draw a line under pitch markings

3:20pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Local Sport By Alan Feldberg

PRINCES Risborough RFC are appealing an RFU decision to dock them five points because their pitch wasn’t marked out on the opening day of the season.

They were hosting Gosford All Blacks in the BB&O Premier League, but the game had to be cancelled because the school where Risborough play – Princes Risborough Top School – forgot to chalk the lines.

Risborough chairman Andy Emmett said: “If it was our ground we wouldn’t be able to appeal. It would be our fault.

“But it’s the school’s pitch. We’ve given them the fixtures and it was just a mistake.

“They’ve been very good and accepted the blame for it, which we have in writing, and we’ve sent that letter and a letter of support from Gosport with our appeal.

“Hopefully we’ll get the points back and the game will be replayed on a free weekend later in the season. We think we’ve got a good chance.”

Risborough can hardly afford the five point penalty. They spent all of last season battling the drop and are bottom of the BB&O Premier League after the early exchanges this year.

Emmett said: “We had a tough season last season so losing five points is the last thing we want.”

On Saturday they can help themselves out on the pitch when they host Hungerford, one of the teams who were scrapping with Risborough at the wrong end of the table last year.

Meanwhile, in the BB&O Championship, Chesham return to action on Saturday at Wheatley after smashing Kingsclere for 123 points in their last league match.