I COULDN'T believe the Dewsbury match was postponed last week.

But after thoroughly walking the pitch with Raiders officials at 9am, and having consulted the match commissioner, local referee Curtly Etchells deemed the pitch unplayable and postponed the game.

By 10am it was raining, and by kick-off time it was 5C.

I wasn’t there, so I don’t know the full facts, but it was a surprise!

The club was left counting the cost, which I estimate could be as much £20k – a significant blow to the cash-flow. I would recommend every option is explored in future, including a later kick-off when the weather is obviously improving, or some form of pitch protection/heat injection deployed the day before when there is a risk of postponement.

We move on, and this week is one of those must-win games, at Rochdale Hornets.

Rochdale are struggling on and off the field, and have been defeated in their first three games, Dewsbury (38-6) and Halifax (26-20) at home, and last week a good beating in sunny France, by Toulouse (54-6).

Their main sponsor withdrew in pre-season, leaving a financial black hole, and coach Alan Kilshaw has had to assemble a squad with a significant reduction in budget.

One of their signings was ex-Raiders Championship winner Dave Allen. He was out all last season with Whitehaven, but has come back to try to resurrect his career. On his day, he is still one of the best forwards in the division.

Barrow have had a couple of weeks to learn from the defeat at Batley, and know victory tomorrow will be a significant step to Championship survival. But Spotland has never been a happy hunting ground, and they will have to improve significantly.

A big loss will be Jamie Dallimore, who unfortunately has copped a ban for a dangerous tackle in the Batley defeat. We need a half back who can step into Jamie’s boots and kick the team around the pitch, so it will be interesting to see Paul Crarey’s choice.

There has been a lot going on recently at Rugby Football League headquarters.

Nigel Wood stood down, temporarily replaced by local lad Ralph Rimmer, who had a meeting with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn to discuss ways of marketing the game more effectively and raising the profile in all media outlets.

Rimmer said he was enthused by what Hearn had to say, and it is understood Hearn would relish the challenge of taking on RL.

The RFL have moved their headquarters from Red Hall, Leeds, to the Etihad Campus, next to Manchester City’s ground, which will provide an iconic new home with world-class facilities.

Also, all the Championship and League One clubs met in Doncaster last week to discuss the future below Super League; some of the press speculation on this matter is frightening.

Apparently there is a proposal that would see a Super League consisting of the 10 best clubs, and a 16-team second tier.

Those who miss the cut for the top 10 could retain their independence, as would ambitious Championship clubs, but smaller clubs with no desire to be in the top-flight would partner one of the 10 Super League clubs.

Only standalone clubs would be able to get promoted, with Super League licenses and partnerships reappraised every three years.

While many League One expansion clubs would be better off back in the National Conference, there could be some major historic names cut adrift, such as Barrow.

I hope we are in the ambitious camp.