It's just not cricket! Pelsall relegated and hit with bans amid 'jostling and abuse' claims
A cricket club involved in an altercation - which included an opposition player being jostled and allegations of abuse to the umpire - has been relegated and hit with a series of bans.
Pelsall Cricket Club was deducted 40 points with its captain Dan Pennell banned for 12 matches and wicketkeeper Tom Chew 13 matches following a decision by the Birmingham League disciplinary panel.
The loss of points from their final Division Three total has dropped the team into the bottom four of the league and means they have been relegated to the Staffs Clubs Championship for next season.
The Express & Star understands a Worcester CC player was jostled and there were allegations of abusive language directed towards an umpire at the game in Worcester, which was the last fixture of the season.
Pelsall took legal advice before successfully appealing against an initial league ruling that saw Pennell and Chew banned for 14 and 16 games respectively.
The panel also endorsed the club's appeal over a suspension of six league matches for fellow players Stephen Blews, Paul Grainger and Todd Henderson.
But Pelsall's bid to have the 40-point penalty reduced was dismissed.
In a statement, Pelsall CC said: "We can confirm there was an incident on the last game of the season between ourselves and Worcester CC which has resulted in five of our players being suspended and the club being docked 40 points, which has relegated us back into the Staffs Club Championship.
"As a club we are disappointed and saddened by the lengthy bans some of our players have received after what was a historical year for our club after reaching the semi-final of the National Village Cup for the first time in our history and avoiding relegation on our return back to the Birmingham League.
"Pelsall CC prides itself on being a family-friendly club which was evidently seen last year where record crowds attended the ground to watch our cup quarter-final and semi-finals not to mention our excellent Lashings day hosted back in August."
The statement added that the club, based in Walsall Road in Pelsall, will be recruiting players for the 2016 season in a bid to win promotion.
A Birmingham League spokesman confirmed that league regulations do not allow participants in disciplinary hearings to comment about the issue.
Pelsall were in the headlines last season after their National Village Knockout clash with Bronwydd CC was marred when a Welsh flag was burned.
But the club were cleared of any blame with fans from a nearby football match alleged to have carried out the act.
