KEIGHLEY Cougars head coach Paul March has blasted the RFL’s poor management of this season's Reserves Championship competition.

With the Cougars first team not in action this Sunday – they have a bye due to the odd number of teams in League One – the reserves side are also not in action after Featherstone Rovers followed Leigh Centurions and Sheffield Eagles in withdrawing from the competition.

It's not the first time this season the reserves, coached by Scott Lindsey, have gone a spell without a game, with last week’s 46-16 victory over defending champions Dewsbury their first fixture in a month.

And following next Thursday’s reverse fixture against the Rams, they face a three-week break before their trip to the Warrington Wolves in mid-May.

March said: “I’m disappointed with the RFL and how they are running the Reserves Championship at the moment.

“Another team has now pulled out in Featherstone Rovers which, after Leigh and Sheffield dropping out too, means the games aren’t coming thick and fast for the reserves. For the players and Scott Lindsey that is incredibly frustrating.

“A lack of fixtures means there is a lack of game time. So all the reserve lads need to do when they’re not getting those minutes on the field is stick together as a group and, when those games do come, prepare well for them.

“As a League One club, we are trying to do everything right by putting pathways in place for youngsters such as Josh Casey, Jamel Goodall and Christopher Cullimore to come through the system and get those first-team opportunities.

“I know there are quality youngsters in the reserves side and they showed that last Thursday night with the victory against Dewsbury.”

The Cougars reserves pair Jack Brown and Titus Gwaze have trialled with the England Lions under-18s side as they look to secure a place in the squad for this summer’s internationals against France and Australia.

Last night, Dewsbury Rams hosted a night with Garry Schofield with all proceeds going towards the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund.