Devon Cricket Board - Torquay skip blasts back over no-promotion ruling

Torquay skip blasts back over no-promotion ruling

TORQUAY 2nd XI captain Rob Jack has taken a swipe at the Devon League hierarchy after his side were denied promotion from the D Division West for breaking a ground rule.
The game was originally due to be played at Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, but the ground at Shiphay became unavailable the day before the last round of fixtures.
The school pitch had been booked in advance as Torquay’s own ground had been turned over to co-tenants Torquay Athletic.
Torquay CC contacted opponents Plymouth Civil Service to ask if the game could be played on their ground instead.
Civil agreed, the game went ahead and Torquay earned a winning draw to move ahead of long-time leaders Ivybridge in the final table.
Then the problems started. Ground moves are permitted under Devon League rules, but three days notice is required. Neither side informed league administrator Geoff Coish of the switch by the deadline date, although he did know after it.
League chiefs looked into the matter at a meeting last Wednesday night and deduced 10 points from Torquay’s total, which put them back behind Ivybridge.
Only one side is promoted from the regionalised D Division, so Torquay stay where they are. Having finished second three times in the previous four years that was a bitter pill to swallow.
Jack said the league’s decision did absolutely nothing to encourage cricket in the lower divisions, but did penalise clubs who tried to do the right thing.
“I think the league have missed a great opportunity to demonstrate that playing cricket is what it is all about, particularly with the foul weather this summer,” said Jack.
“It is a sad day for cricket when the team who came top on points, who had already advised the league we needed to move the match from our ground and gave up home advantage get penalised because of a minor technicality on communication.
Initiative
“If you are let down by a third party then use your initiative to get things on and decide in the appropriate way – playing the game – who gets promoted.
“To be penalised because your rivals appeal to get themselves up is a joke.
“If the situation was reversed I would be embarrassed to be promoted by digging out redundant regulations and would certainly not have resorted to an appeal on such grounds.”
John Sparks, Ivybridge’s league representative, categorically denied his club had appealed to stop Torquay being promoted.
Said Sparks: “After we lost to Plympton in our final game, one of our players rang someone from Civil to see how they got on against Torquay.
“We knew we might be in trouble if we lost and wanted to find out.
“It was during that conversation our chap was told the game had been moved from Torquay to Roborough.
“Knowing the three-day rule existed, I rang the league administrator and asked if he knew about the switch.
“He said he did and that was the end of it as far as we were concerned.
“The first we knew about Torquay having points deducted was when it appeared on the Devon Cricket Board website.”
Although Torquay will be in the D Division West again next season, Jack isn’t sure he will he leading them.
“I will be considering my position as captain and whether I want to be associated with this type of non-cricket at all.”

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