Bamford’s cup ban cut to a year

CRICKET:

BAMFORD Fieldhouse’s Tanner Cup ban has been reduced from three years to one on appeal.

A committee of three senior officials from the Saddleworth and District league heard Bamford’s argument at Austerlands CC and after lengthy consideration cut the suspension.

The ban will now run for the 2014 seasaon alone, and will include the Moore Cup, the league’s second XI knock-out competition. The £500 fine was also halved — but Bamford must pay a forfeit of £75 to Droylsden for non fulfilment of the fixture.

Bamford were due to play Droylsden in the Tanner Cup on May 18, but there was no play due to rain. The game should have been played the following day, a league reserve day. But the cup favourites failed to show up and played Southport and Birkdale in an ECB National Cup game instead.

Bamford officials were unhappy at Droylsden’s attempt to start the match on the original day, knowing any play would have meant continuing the game on Monday under league rules.

A club’s second XI must take the place of the first team if it is unable to fulfil the fixture.

Bamford’s second team was also disqualified from this season’s Moore Cup. Both games were awarded to Droylsden.