Reading champagne still on ice as league decides

Ben Steele • Published 23 Sep 2009 11:00 3 Comments

READING Cricket Club are still waiting to hear whether they have been crowned Home Counties Division Two West champions - nearly three weeks after the season reached its dramatic conclusion.

David Barr's men thought their late season run of seven wins in nine games had brought them the crown following their final day six-wicket win over Falkland back on September 5.

That success, combined with a 25-point deduction for long-time leaders Aston Rowant following a mid-pitch scuffle in their game with Basingstoke & North Hants in August, seemed to have ensured the Sonning Lane outfit's immediate return to Division One.

But Aston Rowant launched an appeal against their penalty, which was imposed when their all-rounder Tim Miles and Basingstoke batsman Dean Nurse clashed after a row over the former bowling beamers.

While the appeal is still pending, Rowant have provisonally had their points reinstated, meaning they are currently the unofficial champions.

And despite the league insisting a decision on the matter would be reached as soon as possible, a resolution has still yet to be reached three weeks later.

And that has left first team coach Mark Simmonds frustrated at the lack of news coming out of the league.

He said: "Obviously we can't comment too much over something like this that is still ongoing.

"But I have not heard anything from the league about it as yet, it has been very quiet.

"I had hoped something would have come out about it this week, but it hasn't and it's certainly frustrating."

Home Counties League chairman Ray Wood could not be contacted as The Chronicle went to press.

But the league's fixtures secretary John Goodman confirmed that no decision had yet been reached over the destination of the title.

He said: "I am not involved in the appeals process, but there has not been any news as yet.

"We are all waiting to hear as much as the clubs in question."

Tweet

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  moeen
  Unregistered User
  Oct 16, 10:14
  Report comment

  Looks like the league have got their wish in allowing one of their favoured clubs to gain promotion by default.Mr Wood of the HCPL and his team must be overjoyed.Who needs small clubs with nice grounds in div 1 anyway.Lets let big clubs with great connections play in the top league.Now they have the clubs they want there lets scrap promotion/relegation.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  a cricket fan
  Unregistered User
  Oct 16, 17:52
  Report comment

  Absolutely agree with Moeen, the second best team in the league has won promotion in the committee rooms!. They must be so proud.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  agent mulder
  Unregistered User
  Oct 26, 17:47
  Report comment

  I've also heard a rumour that Tim Miles and Dean Nurse are actually secret agents from Reading sent in to their respective clubs to help bring down Aston Rowant from within. It's all one big conspiracy!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

Post a comment

Your Comment:

Registered users log in here

Username or email

Password

If you are registered with us, you can login here. If you are not registered, do so now.
Once logged in you wont have to complete word verification each time you post.

Prefer not to register?

Screen Name *required

Email (not displayed) *required

Usernames must be 4 - 20 characters. Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users can also take part in competitions and other features of the site.

Word Verification:
Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle