No-play controversy at Woodhouses
Reporter: Local cricket by KEVIN RICHARDSON
Date published: 11 August 2008
BOOS reverberated around Woodhouses Cricket Club after their National Village Cup semi-final tie against holders Woodhouse Grange was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Supporters from both sides waited patiently after heavy rain two hours before play was due to start left players and officials busy mopping up.
The hard work looked to have paid off when umpires Les Knowles and Suresh Patel passed the ground fit at 6pm.
However, both captains had to agree, per competition rules, in order for a reduced overs game to take place and, while Woodhouses' Gareth Tuson was ready to give it a go, Steve Burdett refused, saying it would make a mockery of such an important match.
The many in the crowd, hoping to see Woodhouses reach a Lord's final, vented their frustration when it was explained over the loud-speaker system why the game — which should have been 40 overs per side — would not go ahead.
It has been re-arranged for next Sunday, but Woodhouses have had to forego home advantage and instead travel to North Yorkshire.
Tuson explained: “We wanted to play, but their captain said it would devalue the competition.
“I'm sure the 500 or so people who turned up wanted to be entertained, but all they've done is stared at a wet outfield.
“We've done everything possible to get the game on. We worked on the ground on Saturday up until 5pm through rain and we were back on it at 8am. It was fit at midday, but then it rained heavily again.
“Maybe if both captains had put pressure on the umpires a bit earlier, we could have got a game in.
“The umpires should be handed more power. If they think it's fit, we should play, even it means 15 overs per side.”
Burdett thought the decision to wait another week was a “no-brainer”.
He said: “It wouldn't have been fair on either side to have played 15 overs in the semi-final of a national competition. There's too much at stake.
“I feel sympathy for Woodhouses, because they've put a lot of effort into it, but why reduce it to a thrash when there's a free Sunday available? It was one of those situations where the captains agreed to disagree.
“If it rains next weekend and it ends up being a bowl-out, at least we can say we gave it a chance.”
