Simmons hits out as Reading denied promotion

Published 26 Nov 2009 13:38 9 Comments

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READING head coach Mark Simmons has expressed his 'extreme disappointment' after seeing his side denied promotion back to Division One of the Home Counties Premier League.

A stunning late season run from the Sonning Lane side seemed to have given them the Two West title, after Aston Rowant were deducted 25 points for an on-pitch fight in their match with Basingstoke & North Hants.

That decision was ratified by the league in October, but last week Rowant won their appeal against the penalty.

They duly had their 25 point penalty rescinded - which was enough to move them above Reading and into the sole promotion slot - and replaced with a suspended 40-point penalty.

And Simmons, pictured, admits that decision has left him personally very unhappy about the whole process.

He said: "I am naturally disappointed that this decision has cost Reading the opportunity to play in the Premier Division in 2010 - but it is the principle that is more important here.

"Since league cricket began in this area in 1972 there has never been an incident like it at the top level.

"Cricketers and their clubs in this region are going to be amazed at this decision as it looks as though a player is guilty of a level four offence but that his club has no punishment."

In the incident on August 22, Rowant's Australian all-rounder Tim Miles clashed with Basing-stoke & North Hants' Dean Nurse on the pitch, after the latter was angered by a succession of beamers. The players had to be pulled apart by team-mates.

And Simmons added that he was surprised at the leniency of the new punishment.

He added: "The original (but annulled) disciplinary committee felt that a 25 point penalty was in order. The second disciplinary hearing also found that a 25 point penalty was in order.

"This is such a massive reversal of a points fine. Everybody involved in the local leagues knows that a 40 point suspended sentence is no punishment at all.

"They also know that physical assault on the cricket field needs to be dealt with harshly. Those who feel otherwise are not proper guardians of the game."

And Simmons concluded that the unjust outcome may well have missed an opportunity of dealing appropriately with on-pitch discipline in the sport.

He explained: "All of the ECB guidelines focus so heavily on player conduct, respect for the spirit of the game and how captains are responsible for the conduct of their players during a game.

"This final outcome, to the worst behavioural incident ever in the top flight of local league cricket, is so out of line with the very statements that the HCPL purports to support.

"Come next April or May the same old messages will go out to captains and clubs regarding behaviour and how the captains are responsible.

"Players will be asked to sign code of conduct forms and clubs will be asked to stress the need for the game to be played in the right spirit.

"And they will be asked to do all of this by the very people who have been responsible for not dealing with an outrageous incident when they had a chance to make a statement on behalf of the game of cricket, not just the HCPL.

"It would be interesting to see what a blanket assessment of opinion was of this situation. Few will feel it a just outcome for cricket."

You can leave your comments on the suitable punishment for on-pitch violence in cricket below.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Brendan Jones
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Nov 26, 16:09
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Perhaps the ECB should hold an enquiry into this. It does seems a farcern

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moeen
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Nov 26, 19:10
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Need to get some of the facts correct here fellas especially the paper. The Basingstoke player was abusing the bowler from the boundary before he batted and continued whilst on his way to the crease.The bowler bowled a waist high full toss which went behind the batsmans behind and went for 4 byes.Dont think even a paper can call that a succesion of beamers! The bowler said sorry, the batsman threw his bat away,advanced at the batsman and shoved his helmet in his face,drawing blood.The bowler grabbed the batsman and pushed him to the ground followed by handbags before the fielders pulled them apart.The bowler was not warned by the umps for his high and wide full toss. The umps were asked their opinon and BOTH players stayed on.The game carried on with no further incident and was well managed and both teams had a few drinks after the game(which doesnt always happen). The first so called "disciplinary meeting" was appallingly arranged and carried out. Mickey,donald,pluto and goofy could have run it better hence it was dismissed. The then first proper hearing organised with no little help from a Reading committee member (who really helped Astons cause by repeatedly stuffing things up)was held again with Mr Reading in attendance causing problems for the HCPL.Aston had no alternative but to appeal. Finally a proper meeting was held and hence the result. Unsavoury incident instigated by a player with previous disipline problems. Aston followed the rules.The league didnt, they were shockingbadurldetected.rules are there,follow them. Im sure all parties have learned lessons. Aston won more games than anyone in the league so should go up.Stop whinging,focus on 2010 and try and replace Aston Rowant next time around.

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moeen
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Nov 26, 19:15
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ps I know my spellings bad but i didnt write shockingbadurldetected at the end,honest. That was a gremlin or something like it! Look forward to comments

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Brendan Jones
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Nov 27, 08:11
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I think there still should be an ECB enquiry, as one club has accepted a penalty and the other has had a suspended penalty. Every club in the league has to follow the rules and disciplinary guidelines, so a suspended penalty to behave as every club should in any case? it just sounds wrong.

We can't be blaming Reading for any of this, that's not fair. As I understand it there is no Reading committee member on the leagu committee.

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Mr Cricket
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Nov 27, 14:40
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Why are Reading and Mr Simmons not equally up in arms about Basingstoke receving even less of a punishment than Rowant have? A 25 point penalty for a relegated club in enitirely worthless. If Reading's reason for making a fuss is simply disppointment that harsh penalties were not imposed they really ought to be making even more of an issue about Basingstoke. The fact that they have not mentioned Basingstoke at all strongly suggests this is a case of sour grapes masquerading as moral outrage. It's not the decision of the appeal panel that cost Reading promotion, it's their failure to win enough games. Why can't they just hold their hands up and admit that?

It also shows that Reading (and the author of this article, not to mention everyone else who has written/commented about this) have failed to understand that it is the first panel's decision to penalise both clubs for the 2009 season that left the appeal panel with no option but to reduce Rowant's penalty. They couldn't change Basingstoke's punishment as they didn't appeal, so the only way to impose a fair penalty was to reduce Rowant's. Otherwise there would have been utter inequality in the impact of the punishments on the two clubs that were found to be equally at fault. The appeal panel would no doubt have loved the chance to look at both club's penalties and impose something far harsher but of equal impact, but they didn't have that opportunity. Thats why things have ended up where they are.

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moeen
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Nov 27, 16:44
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Mr Cricket,you sound a very wise man. What position on the HCPL committee would you like? Disciplinary Guru?

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Mr Singh
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Nov 30, 10:28
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I Guess Mr Simmons could possibly be out of a job now or wont be getting a pay rise or the bonuses he expected for winning the league. A head coach....dear oh dear. Whatever next. Or maybe he will find himself without a job now for not getting them promoted. Im sure Rowant may need a head coach now there in with the big boys, but you not up to the standard required if you cant get a massive town team ouf of Div 1 Mr Simmons. I say good luck to Rowant. Enjoy what you rightly deserved for as long as it may last....

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Mr Singh
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Nov 30, 10:37
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P.S. I now newspapers and articles need to be written etc etc, but please Mr Simmons you really have to get your facts right me old china. Thats why hearings are set up (I must stress proper hearings with impartial panel members, and not panels with Reading CC members on it, like what happened in the first 2 hearings, which turned the whole process into a joke). Maybe you should get the facts from ARCC and then you will most certainly think twice about the whole thing and realise justice has been served. Please dont sound bitter and remember its only a game....

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Dibbly Dobbler
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Dec 2, 17:47
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Mr Simmons.......oh dear oh dear!

If you and your fellow committee member had got his facts right and followed the rules and regulations properly you might have got your own way. But your incompetence on and off the field proved your undoing!

The team with the best win record won, the "extreme violence" was nothing more than handbags (you are just going by one photograph), you are using this article as an excuse for your failure!

Mr Singh has sussed you out with the lack of mention in your article re Basingstoke.

I think you need to look at the Chronicle's job section - you may be need to find a new vocation next summer!

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