Club’s fury at league decision

BAMFORD Fieldhouse have slammed the Saddleworth and District Cricket League’s decision to allow the result between rivals Heyside and Uppermill stand.

Heyside won by five wickets, but the Hollin Lane outfit say it should have been classed as a draw because of a discrepancy over the number of overs bowled.

Rain delayed the start until 4.25pm, where upon it was decided by the umpires to play 21 overs per side when rules state that matches can only be reduced to a minimum of 22 for a 4.30pm start.

It is alleged both sides informed the umpires of this fact, but the game still went ahead with each team facing 21 overs.

Bamford, who sit second in the table behind Heyside, appealed against the outcome of the match, but the league’s executive threw it out after careful consideration.

But Bamford are not prepared to let the matter rest and, in a strongly-worded letter to league chairman Eddie Bayliss and secretary Trevor Harrison, they claim the competition is turning into a mockery.

It said: “Member clubs cannot sit back and let this carry on.

“Just this season, you have stuck by the rules and made Hollinwood’s season a disaster because they fell foul of league rules.

“You have also refused juniors from both Heyside and Bamford to play in the Tanner Cup final because ‘rules are rules’.

“The match in question should have been of 23 overs. Who knows what would have happened?

“As a member club, we spend a lot of time in committee studying rules for the next season and then we spend time voting for or against them at the AGM. What for? Just so you can overturn them? Are we wasting our time?”