Trojans cricket outfield, February 2018.
Trojans have been hit by a points deduction and a hefty fine for failing to stage their scheduled Southern Premier League Division Two match against Sparsholt at Stoneham Lane on May 5.
The match had to be switched to Sparsholt’s Locks Lane ground because the damage caused to the cricket outfield following Christmas party functions at Trojans last December had not been sufficiently repaired in time.
The outfield was seriously damaged by sizeable lorry tyre marks embedded in the soil (pictured above) when the party marquee structures were removed from the site.
Trojans won the rescheduled match by two runs, but the 19 points they collected from the narrow victory over Sparsholt have been wiped out by a 20-point deduction imposed by the Premier League this week.
The Stoneham Lane club has also been fined £120 for failing to deal with serious on-going associated administrative issues within an acceptable time period,
In a statement, the SPL said: “There are certain expectations of behaviour that we have on member clubs and our decisions reflect the fact that Trojans fell well below that, both in terms of their failure to provide an accredited pitch (for the Sparsholt match on May 5) and the continual delay in communicating with the league.”
The penalty has left Trojans anchored to the SPL2 basement with only 14 points from four completed matches, the last three of which they have lost to Langley Manor, St Cross Symondians and Paultons.
Trojans have previously had their knuckles rapped by the Southern Premier League, who have already issued the club with a formal warning about the condition of the outfield, which has attracted very poor marks from visiting captains and panel umpires during the past two summer seasons.
Next up, Trojans visit fellow strugglers Tichborne Park.
The match had to be switched to Sparsholt’s Locks Lane ground because the damage caused to the cricket outfield following Christmas party functions at Trojans last December had not been sufficiently repaired in time.
The outfield was seriously damaged by sizeable lorry tyre marks embedded in the soil (pictured above) when the party marquee structures were removed from the site.
Trojans won the rescheduled match by two runs, but the 19 points they collected from the narrow victory over Sparsholt have been wiped out by a 20-point deduction imposed by the Premier League this week.
The Stoneham Lane club has also been fined £120 for failing to deal with serious on-going associated administrative issues within an acceptable time period,
In a statement, the SPL said: “There are certain expectations of behaviour that we have on member clubs and our decisions reflect the fact that Trojans fell well below that, both in terms of their failure to provide an accredited pitch (for the Sparsholt match on May 5) and the continual delay in communicating with the league.”
The penalty has left Trojans anchored to the SPL2 basement with only 14 points from four completed matches, the last three of which they have lost to Langley Manor, St Cross Symondians and Paultons.
Trojans have previously had their knuckles rapped by the Southern Premier League, who have already issued the club with a formal warning about the condition of the outfield, which has attracted very poor marks from visiting captains and panel umpires during the past two summer seasons.
Next up, Trojans visit fellow strugglers Tichborne Park.
