Pertemps Bees' attempt to have their defeat to Cornish Pirates overturned is now back where it started.
Four months after losing to the Cornishmen in a match that went to uncontested scrums because the visitors failed to field appropriate front-row players, Bees' appeal over the result was returned by the Rugby Football Union to First Division Rugby, because it had failed to carry out a 'valid review' in the first place.
Bees believe precedent suggests they should be given four league points for the Pirates' misdemeanour - as happened when Coventry fell into a similar trap against Rotherham three years ago, but when FDR originally ruled on the situation in February, they merely docked Pirates three points without awarding Bees any in return.
Having been relegated from National One, Bees are leaving no stone unturned in their attempts to avoid the drop and hired a QC to travel to Twickenham to make their case on Tuesday.
A decision was initially expected that evening but deliberations were extended to yesterday after which the game's governing body accepted that Bees had submitted their case within the requisite timescale - a fact not originally accepted by FDR. Thus, they ordered the organisation to re-hear the appeal within the next week.
Following a move that amounted to a slap on the wrist, the RFU issued a statement which read: "The panel announced this morning that Pertemps Bees' initial appeal against a decision made by FDR in January this year had not been subject to a valid review by FDR.
"The panel have asked FDR to conduct a review of Pertemps Bees' appeal within the next seven days. Pertemps Bees have the right of a further and final appeal to the RFU competitions committee." .
