WEST Warrnambool will keep the points which were originally stripped from the club’s division three side, marking the second time the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association (WDCA) has reversed the outcome of the round nine match.
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The Panthers lodged an appeal with the association after the points gained from their 28-run win over Nirranda on January 8 were wiped and handed to the Knights.
The Standard understands West had earlier sought clarification from the WDCA match committee about a player eligibility rule and subsequently fielded its side in accordance with the advice it received from the committee.
But Nirranda believed West was breaking a player eligibility rule and complained to the association, resulting in the Knights receiving the points.
The WDCA board heard the appeal on Monday night, with association general manager Andrew Sloane confirming yesterday that the Panthers would regain the winning points.
“The WDCA board was presented the West Warrnambool appeal and in line with the WDCA constitution, bylaws and senior playing conditions, the West Warrnambool appeal has been upheld,” Sloane said.
“They will retain their playing points.”
Asked about the circumstances leading up to the appeal, Sloane said: “I won’t go into further detail”.
West Warrnambool president Kade Hancock welcomed the decision.
“We went through the appeal process and we thought we were pretty confident with what we presented,” he said.
“We had the utmost confidence in the board to uphold the appeal.”
The Panthers sit second on the division three ladder as the competition approaches the home stretch of the season.
“There’s only four games left, so they were crucial points that we needed to have,” said Hancock, who thanked the WDCA board and Nirranda for their co-operation in the appeal.
Knights president Glenn Dalton, who could not be contacted yesterday, last week teed off at the association for its handling of the incident.
Dalton — whose comments included “the clubs seem to know (the rules) but the board of management doesn’t” — escaped a fine.
“The board had a lengthy discussion with Glenn and there will be no further ramifications,” Sloane said.
The WDCA also discussed Reid Oval funding at Monday night’s meeting, with the association deciding it would not contribute to the first stage upgrade, which relates to the eastern side of the ground.
