Mudgee Wombats and Wellington Redbacks - the joint-competition leaders - were left without an opposition as CSU Orange and Orange City Waratahs both forfeited their round 12 matches.

The Wombats were meant to travel to Orange to play the students while Wellington were to host competition strugglers Waratahs.

It is the second time the Wombats have received a forfeit this season, their first was against Yeoval Eagles in May; again player unavailability was the reason for the forfeited game.

Wombats’ backs coach Trent Robertson said the players weren’t impressed at hearing the news at training on Wednesday night.

“They weren’t happy, especially the younger guys as they were champing-at-the-bit to have a crack on Saturday and push their selection to be a regular in the run-on side,” Robertson said.

The timing of the two forfeited matches could not have been worse with semi-finals just around the corner.

Robertson says it is a huge blow to Mudgee’s for and against differential.

“It doesn’t do us any favours because we could have won by a considerable margin.

“The minor premiership [between Mudgee and Wellington] could come down to who has the better for and against.”

Under the By-Laws of Central West Rugby Union (CWRU) it states: ‘In the event of a forfeit the team receiving the forfeit shall be awarded a win with a bonus point and a score of 28-0 and the other team the reverse.’

Chief executive Officer of CWRU Peter Veenstra said it is an unfortunate situation but he cannot do anything about it.

“The students followed the By-Laws of the competition... I was notified on Thursday morning and the president of CSU Orange notified the president of the Mudgee club,” he said.

Veenstra ruled out the possibility of the match being rescheduled because Aggies had forfeited the game.

Despite lop-sided scorelines and three forfeits during the season, Veenstra says the President Cup competition still has its place as a credible competition.

“You just have to look at the competition table... there are five or six teams still in contention and I’ll be very keen to see which teams finish in fourth or fifth positions.”