FORFEIT DRAMA TEAM PULLS THE PIN MINUTES BEFORE KICKOFF

Boss wants a ‘please explain’ from Barbarians

“IF any club forfeits, I believe that is letting our competition down.”

Those were the stern words spoken last month by Gold Coast District Rugby Union chairman Kim Bending in the context of his admiration for how Bond Pirates have been soldiering on despite their struggle for player numbers.

Unfortunately, Coolangatta Tweed on Saturday became the first team this year to forfeit a first grade match.

Opponents Griffith University Colleges, who are undefeated, were less than impressed after making the trek down to Goodwin Park.

“They came over and forfeited five minutes before the boys were going on,” said Knights coach Graham Herlihy. “They only had 14 players.”

Having seen last year’s competition plagued by forfeits, Herlihy raised the idea of each club paying a bond before the start of the season which would be refunded once they have fielded a team for all regular season matches.

Bending was unaware of the matter when contacted yesterday but showed concern.

“That’s not good at all and I’m not impressed if that’s what has taken place,” he said.

He is set to request a “please explain” from the Barbarians before Sunday, when a presidents’ meeting had already been scheduled for.

“I’ll get our board buddy onto it during the week and find out what is transpiring down there,” Bending said.

He added the time has come for clubs to have tough internal discussions to plot their way forward, with a small but strong competition considered healthier than a large but weak one.

Tweed were contacted for comment.

In other games, Surfers Paradise defeated Gold Coast Eagles 50-10 while a new-look Helensvale thrashed the Pirates 78-19. “We had about nine or 10 debutants for first grade,” Hogs coach Tonga Lea’aetoa said.