Three Bridges CC out of Sussex Premier League title race after points deduction

It is down to an error made by the club after overseas star Matt Boyle returned to the club following a stint with Middlesex in the Vitality Blast.

The league said it had sympathy with Three Bridges but had to act.

The club said they felt the penalty was harsh on their team as it had extinguished their title challenge.

The loss of points left Bridges fifth in the 10-team table with 297 points – and crucially that meant with two games left and 60 points to play for, they could not catch leaders Roffey, who had 366 points.

Before the deduction Bridges had 346 points so were 20 behind Roffey and 10 behind second-placed Middleton.

A statement given to us by the Sussex Cricket League last Frdiay afternoon said: "Three Bridges were found by the ECB and Home Office to have made an administrative error following the return of their overseas player, Matt Boyle, from a stint with Middlesex in the T20 Blast.

"It is important to note that Matt's credentials were perfectly fine before he went to the Blast. Matt played two league matches on his return plus a T20 Cup match (which TB lost) before returning home.

"The SCL Exec, having been directed by the ECB to apply appropriate penalties under our regulations, decided to remove the 49 points gained in the two league matches (a win and a winning draw).

"Three Bridges have opted not to appeal that decision.

"We regret having to take this action and we do not want our competitions to be decided by off field issues, but we are an ECB Premier League and, as such, had little room for manoeuvre here. The Exec feels that the outcome reached is the fairest one available to us.

"We have sympathy with Three Bridges, because this was very much a technicality, but the ECB's managed migration team are now more focused than ever on overseas player documentation – this is one of about 50 current cases nationwide. We doubt this will be the last case we see in Sussex.”

Bridges were rained off at Hastings on Saturday and finish the season at home to Horsham on Saturday.

Steve Brown, director of cricket at the club, said: “Three Bridges CC deeply regret the circumstances that have resulted in a 49 point deduction applied by the SCL.

"As per the SCL statement, this situation arose following a technical breach of the ECB regulations related to the International Sports Person (ISP) Visa that Matt Boyle obtained to coach and play cricket in the UK this summer.

"Whilst the club, and Matt, were fully compliant with the terms of the ISP Visa before Matt was signed by Middlesex CCC, we have recently been advised that this was not the case when he returned to the club, as a result of changes that were made for that engagement.

"We feel the penalty is harsh, particularly on our 1st XI as it has ended any remaining hopes they had of pursuing a first Premier League title in 30 years, but we understand why it was applied and therefore must accept it.”