Unholy Trinity to face inquiry

RUGBY LEAGUE

BY DAVE HADFIELD

Wakefield Trinity are facing possible disciplinary action over incidents during and after their First Division match against Sheffield Eagles on Saturday.

The referee, Karl Kirkpatrick, was pursued from the pitch at Belle Vue under police escort following the match, which Trinity lost 14-10. Greg McCallum, the director of referees' coaching, was yesterday studying reports of that incident as well as the referee's report of remarks directed at him by Wakefield's joint-coach, Andy Kelly, during the game.

"The Wakefield club is being very co-operative and want to get to the truth of this as much as we do," McCallum said.

Doncaster are set to fulfil the rest of their fixtures this season, starting with their match at Bradford on Sunday, after the owners of their Tattersfield ground bought the club from the administrators appointed to run its affairs.

The long-term future of the club, which owes £1.5m, is still uncertain, but the Rugby League's chief executive, Maurice Lindsay, said: "We will not give up without a fight. Doncaster can be a thriving rugby league town."

The eight players declared free agents because of the club's failure to meet their contract payments remain free to join new clubs, despite the rescue initiative. Chorley Borough, relegated from the League to the National Conference two years ago, have already applied to take Doncaster's place if they eventually fold.

The Auckland Warriors stand to lose their first Winfield Cup points after fielding too many substitutes in their 46-12 victory over Western Suburbs at the weekend.

Their coach, John Monie, who, ironically, campaigned for the use of extra replacements in Britain when he was in charge of Wigan, used five rather than the permitted four against Wests. The Warriors, beaten in their first two matches, now look certain to forfeit their first victory.