BRADSHAW are out of the Foster's Halifax League Premier Division relegation places after being controversially awarded their first 12 points of the season.

Visitors Triangle only had four players at the ground at 1.30pm last Saturday when virtually no cricket was played in the area due to heavy rain, and Bradshaw have therefore been awarded a victory, moving them above both Blackley and Triangle.

Bradshaw claimed the points on the day, and the Halifax League’s executive committee backed them up after meeting on Monday evening.

The delay in announcing the decision is because the league wanted to inform Triangle by letter before making the news public.

Halifax League secretary Neil Myers said Bradshaw had been awarded maximum points, Triangle had got none and the Grassy Bottom club had also been fined £114.

Myers explained that that was broken down into £35 to Bradshaw (compensation for match costs), £25 to the league and £54 as payment for the two umpires.

The official said executive members had stuck closely to the rule book in making their decision.

“The game was not cancelled, therefore we moved to the rule which states that all games commence at 1.30,” said Myers.

“At 1.30, Triangle did not have the minimum seven players there so Bradshaw are entitled to claim the points.”

Bradshaw had only won one of their previous 13 fixtures.

Bottom club Sowerby St Peters, who, like the other ten sides in the Premier Division, had to settle for two points on Saturday, are the other club who are sure to be unhappy with the outcome of Monday’s meeting.

Myers admitted that officials were bracing themselves for a backlash from other clubs hit by their decision.

“We are aware that being awarded the points is a massive help to Bradshaw, at the expense of Blackley and Sowerby SP, and that it will also contribute to Triangle’s slide from mid-table towards the bottom.

“We have looked at the rules and followed them – everyone knows that you have got to turn up on time whatever the weather.

“No matter what we did, someone would have a go at us but we have just followed the rules.”