Batley coach Karl Harrison angry at cup postponement

Harrison believes Batley will suffer because of the RFL decision

Batley coach Karl Harrison has hit out after his side's Challenge Cup fifth round game at Halifax was postponed less than three hours before kick-off.

The match was called off by the Rugby Football League (RFL) to let it investigate claims Halifax fielded an ineligible player in the fourth round.

"I find its scandalous this was left so late and we received no prior warning," Harrison told BBC Radio Leeds.

"The RFL should have found out about this much earlier."

Halifax should know their fate by Tuesday lunchtime and could be thrown out of the competition.

Prop Michael Ostick played for Rochdale Hornets in their third round defeat to FC Lezignan on Sunday, 7 March.

He then moved to Halifax on a season-long loan and featured in their 56-4 fourth round win at Swinton Lions on Friday, 16 April.

"Every game you fill a team-sheet in and then that is sent to the RFL. So they have had that team-sheet for at least three weeks," said Harrison.

"So they should have found out much earlier that Halifax had fielded this player. Someone has obviously missed it and I'm sure there will be consequences further down the line."

If Halifax are removed from the Challenge Cup, Swinton may be reinstated and play Batley in a rearranged fifth round tie, the winners of which will host Super League club Catalan Dragons in the quarter-finals.

A Swinton tie would have to be played in midweek, something Harrison is also unhappy about.

"This weekend was down as a league weekend, so we had already had to reschedule our game with Sheffield. And now we could have played that game after all.

"We wanted to play Sheffield in July, but because they play at Bramall Lane we couldn't play it in July as the pitch is being reseeded then. So we have to play them this Wednesday instead, which is not ideal.

"Now it looks like we will have a midweek game against Swinton. It's us having to suffer the consequences of all this and it's a double hit for us.

"It's games we don't need and will put a lot of extra pressure on my players. People forget all my players are part-time players and have other jobs.

"It's very hard to ask them to work all week end then play in midweek too, which means they are playing three matches in just seven days, which is not fair on my guys."