Aston Rowant to appeal

9/5/2009

Aston Rowant will appeal against the 25-point deduction that has denied them the Division 2 West title. Rowant finished 11 points behind Reading after thrashing Burnham by nine wickets in their final match.

Chairman Gary Condon confirmed they would be challenging the penalty imposed after Tim Miles clashed with Basingstoke’s Dean Nurse in a league game on August 22.

Condon said: “We are going to appeal. We will try to get it to the league by Monday evening.

“We are going to be looking at the grounds and the way it has been handled.

“They didn’t say when the hearing was taking place. We weren’t contacted at all.”

Rowant have to lodge their appeal withing seven days of the disciplinary committee’s decision, which was made on Tuesday.

The league handbook states: “If Notice of Appeal is given the penalty shall not take effect pending the hearing of the Appeal, which shall take place as soon as is practicable.”

This would suggest Rowant’s 25 points will be reinstated – at least until the appeal hearing.

On the field, Rowant had few problems routing basement boys Burnham, who have not won a game all season.

They elected to bowl after winning the toss, with Ryan Dutton striking first to trap Mohammed Nadeem lbw.

Burnham then reached 93-1, with Basharat Awais and Shaid Nadeem, who both passed 50, at the crease.

Rowant took control after that with captain Wesley Morrick taking 5-75 for his sixth five-wicket haul of the season.

Morrick finished with 66 wickets to top the division’s rankings. Paul Humphreys added 2-34 as Burnham were all out for 169.

Rowant lost Tim Morgan early in their reply, but Rory Lyon (80no) and Alex Jewell (66no) sped them to an easy win.

Lyon smashed 17 fours in his 65-ball knock.