Wanderers may have to forfeit

Wanderers seem certain to have to forfeit their as yet unplayed AIB League Division Two fixture against Buccaneers and accordingly suffer relegation to Division Three because of a decision to seek a postponement to the aforementioned match on Saturday.

In consultation with a member of the Grounds Fitness panel, Merrion Road was declared unplayable. Malone and Bective Rangers were furious that Wanderers had elicited, what they considered to be an unfair advantage in knowing the result of other matches and deemed it sharp practice.

The IRFU's AIB League working committee have already met to consider the matter and will be making a report to the full IRFU committee who convene on Friday. The portents are ominous for Wanderers and it is reasonable to assume that the delay in reaching a judgment may be accredited to the fact that the IRFU are considering the legal ramifications of the issue.

The fact that every other match in Dublin that day was played and also that Wanderers never offered a satisfactory explanation to the query as to where they looked for an alternative venue as they are required to do by the laws of the competition does not bode well. Sydney Parade and Belfield are just two viable alternatives that were overlooked.