Vimps at the Crease
  • Latest News
  • Southern Premier League
    • 2022 Champions
    • 2021 Champions
    • 2020 Champions
    • 2019 Champions
    • Weekly Awards
    • Cricketer of the Month
    • SPL Tables
    • Play Cricket Website
  • Hants CL/Island
    • HCL News
    • HCL Results
    • HCL Tables
  • Gallery
    • Premier League Action
    • Team Photos
    • Dave Vokes Photography
    • Robert Franklin Photography >
      • 2016 Season
      • 2015 Season
    • Roy Honeybone
    • Terry Nash
    • Golden Oldies
  • Contact
  • Links
  • History
    • Test & County Cricketers
    • Championship Winners
    • Award Winners
    • U16 Indoor League >
      • News
      • Fixtures
      • Results
      • Table
      • Statistics
      • Honours Board
      • Gallery

FAIR OAK LOOK TO IMPROVE PITCH AFTER DEMOTION TO HCL

24/4/2015

0 Comments

 
FAIR Oak are confident their pitch will return to an acceptable standard in 2015 – after it ended their nine-year spell in the Southern Electric Premier League.

The poor quality of the club’s Lapstone Park pitch has resulted in Fair Oak’s relegation to the Hampshire League, despite finishing sixth out of the ten teams in the SEPL’s third division writes Southern Daily Echo’s Simon Walter.

Fair Oak’s 2nd XI – which finished third in County 3 South – has been denied promotion by the Hampshire Cricket League for the same reason.

But chairman Andy Eley is confident of an improvement this summer.

He said: “We’ve got things in place to make sure the pitch is back up to standard this year. The autumn maintenance work went very well, an Ageas Bowl groundsman will be helping out and we have received good advice on how to maintain and prepare the pitch.

“We’ve also had very good support from the parish council with regards to equipment and we’ve got a great set of volunteers so hopefully we’ll see an improvement in the marks this season.”

Fair Oak won promotion to the SEPL in 2005 but received an unprecedented severe warning last year are and became ‘ungraded’ after receiving an average pitch mark of 19.92/40, from umpires and opposition captains, in 2014. 

Overall they scored 26.44/50, to include marks given for the outfield (Portsmouth & Southsea’s 34-point average was the next worst).

Since the SPL AGM, Fair Oak have appealed unsuccessfully to the Hampshire Cricket Board.

Eley continued: “We’ve gone through all the due processes, but it didn’t change the outcome so we have to accept it and move on.

“It’s very disappointing because our marks improved significantly towards the end of the season but unfortunately not over a long enough period of time.

“We’ve got a thriving colts set-up and my biggest concern is that it prevents our youngsters playing at the highest possible standard.”

Fair Oak’s third and fourth teams are not affected as they play their home games at Twyford and Owslebury.

SEPL chairman David Ridley said: “I don’t wish relegation on anyone but all of our clubs’ grounds are graded and assessed by the Hampshire Cricket Board’s grounds and facilities committee and Fair Oak received a severe warning two years ago.

“The pitch did not improve significantly so they became ungraded which means they can’t be in the league. 

“It wasn’t just the marks, the comments captains and umpires provided were very negative and the other 32 clubs were all in favour of this decision.

“I sincerely hope their ground marks improve and they finish in the top two of the Hampshire Cricket League next year so they can be welcomed back into the SEPL. That would give me a lot of pleasure.”
0 Comments

    Vimps at the Crease

    Editorial is the copyright of Mike Vimpany.

    Comments are welcome but abusive or critical remarks about umpires, players, officials and other clubs will be reported to the respective leagues who may take disciplinary action.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Categories

    All

    Powered by

    Cricket-Hockey.com
    The cricket equipment specialists in Downton, Salisbury
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.