Old Lane are booted out after Priestley Cup rumpus

3:41pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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Bowling Old Lane have been booted out of this year’s Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup.

Their second-round game at Farsley last Sunday was abandoned by umpires Keith Dickens and Ray Spencer after problems during the match which later continued off the pitch.

Old Lane had been dismissed for 120 and Farsley were 62 for two in reply when the stumps were pulled.

The JCT600 Bradford League held a board of management meeting last night after they had received the umpires’ reports.

They endorsed the umpires’ decision to abandon the tie and ruled that the match be awarded to Farsley.

A statement on the league’s website stated: “The management board has announced that it has unanimously endorsed the umpires’ decision to abandon the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup second-round tie between Farsley and Bowling Old Lane.

“The tie has been awarded to Farsley. Further disciplinary proceedings will follow based on the content of the umpires’ reports.”

Having dealt with the team (Old Lane), the league will next week hold a disciplinary hearing to decide whether any action should be taken against an Old Lane individual or individuals based on the umpires’ reports.

Old Lane have already taken action against one unnamed individual but the club are waiting to read the umpires’ reports themselves before attending the hearing.

Farsley now go forward to the third round on Sunday, July 13 where they will host Cleckheaton (1pm).

League champions Woodlands have suffered only one defeat so far this season in Division One and have 183 points but they don’t accept that they have even one finger on the trophy.

Woodlands’ league representative Phil Godfrey says: “We are only 13 points in front of Bradford & Bingley and it is a much more competitive division this time than last year.”

Godfrey’s boys are at relegation-threatened Saltaire on Saturday, who have given them trouble in the past, while Bingley have a tricky test at Pudsey Congs, who dropped from second to fifth after their defeat by Woodlands last Saturday.

Third-placed East Bierley are at Esholt, while consistent Cleckheaton (fourth) host Pudsey St Lawrence.

Key ‘relegation’ match is fourth-from-bottom Yeadon’s visit to second-from-bottom Old Lane, who must quickly shake off their cup hangover if they are to prosper.