Broadwater feel vindicated by appeal after Eagles abandonment

BROADWATER Cricket Club, in a statement, admitted that they felt vidicated after their hearing in front of the Sussex Cricket Board on Friday evening.

After their game at Crawley Eagles was abandoned on July 9, Broadwater were appealing over bans handed out by the West Sussex Invitation League.

Captain Graham Waller had been given a two-week ban for abuse of a player, which was doubled due to his position of captain, although the extra two weeks were suspended until December 31, 2012, and Nigel Waller was given a two-week ban for abuse of a player and a further one-week ban for dissent to an umpire, which was suspended.

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Broadwater also appealed against a suspended 30-point deduction.

Graham Waller’s two-week ban was upheld but the SCB discarded his suspended ban, and Nigel Waller’s two-week ban was halved to one game, with his suspended ban also discarded, although the suspended 30-point deduction was upheld.

In the statement, Broadwater said: “Broadwater Cricket Club wants to thank the SCB for a very fair hearing. We feel totally vindicated in going to appeal as the bans given to Graham Waller and Nigel Waller have effectively been halved.

“We are slightly disappointed that the 30 point suspended penalty has been upheld as we have an unblemished record since the start of the West Sussex Invitation League in 1979.

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“We welcome the SCB recommendation to the West Sussex Invitation League to address the issue of excessive, ridiculous and orchestrated appealing that is used by a small number of clubs.”

Graham Waller added: “If we stay up, which looks unlikely now, Nigel and I have both said that we’ll never play in a game against Eagles again.

“It could be the World Cup final at the Sydney Cricket Ground and I wouldn’t play against them as it would be a waste of time.

“Eagles also didn’t appeal against any of their bans which, I feel, paints a picture.”

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Eagles’ Faisal Griffith received a two-week ban for abuse of a player and captain Ijaz Akbar received a one-week ban for failure to control his players, and both bans have been served.

Graham Waller was full of praise for Clymping batsmen Stuart Hanks after their game on Saturday and said: “I wasn’t there but have been told that he nicked one to our keeper, which our umpire gave not out – but Stuart admitted he had nicked it and walked off.

“It was a very good thing for him to do and we thank him.”

Broadwater remain second from bottom and 26 points from safety in Division 1 after losing at Clymping by 81 runs on Saturday, when they were all out for 123.

Gary Tester top-scored with 77 and Gareth Challen struck 50 as Clymping posted 204-9 from their 49 overs as Paul O’Sullivan took 5-50.

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O’Sullivan then top-scored with 55 but Broadwater were all out for 123.

Graham Waller served the first of his two-game ban and Nigel Waller served his one-game ban.

Broadwater host Felbridge on Saturday.