Coach: Expulsion for Clacton is only fair option for us

Graham Richards believes the only fair way for the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to deal with Saturday’s cancelled match by visiting Clacton is to remove them from the league.

London Three North East leaders Sudbury were left to hastily organise a training session as their return to action after the festive break was delayed by the Essex side’s failure to have enough fit front-row specialists available.

But while second-placed Cantabrigian lost to Stowmarket and Sudbury were awarded the full five points to edge 11 clear, Richards would reluctantly not be happy to let things continue with Clacton still in the league after what was their second call-off of the season.

“If Clacton continue to play and are allowed to stay in the league, then our points differential is severely affected,” said Richards. “It would then be very unfair, as far as we are concerned if the league came down to points difference.

He added there was also another costly impact already.

“I would have preferred to have played last Saturday, as you have to remember the knock-on effect of not playing home games is lost revenue.

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