Cricket: Club final called off due to player abuse

A club cricket game in Wairarapa was called off after one team refused to carry on due to the abuse they were receiving. Photo / Thinkstock

The grand final of Wairarapa's premier club cricket competition was abandoned on Saturday after one team refused to return from the tea break because of abuse directed at their players.

Umpires Johann Fourie and James Sprowson had little alternative but to pull stumps at tea on Saturday when the batting side, Greytown, decided enough was enough and refused to continue their first innings They were 38-6 at the time in reply to Lansdowne's 130.

They cited an "intolerable level of personal abuse directed at our players", as being the reason for a stand which meant Lansdowne became the Bidwill Cup holders by forfeit.

Fallout from the debacle has begun, with trophies being withheld and the sport's governing body ordering an independent inquiry.

The Wairarapa Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association were to award two trophies at the end-of-season function on Sunday night but decided not to.

One was the Spirit of Cricket Cup for the player who demonstrates the true spirit of cricket in the premier grade and the second, the Thursday Cup, is for the team which best displays the spirit of cricket over the whole of the club season.

Just who were to be the recipients of those trophies has not been made public but the association has met and a statement was expected this morning.

Greytown also forwarded a formal request to the Wairarapa Cricket Association (WCA) board to investigate the circumstances. The request was supported by Lansdowne who were not willing to apportion blame for what had occurred on the field of play, saying both teams might well have something to answer for.

Board chairman Sam Rossiter-Stead confirmed yesterday a full investigation by an independent person would be held into the final. He said he and WCA president Mark Elliott would liaise with that person involved but would play no part in the investigation. Other board members were conflicted and would not be involved.

Mr Rossiter-Stead said it was likely the investigation would include reports from the two umpires, representations from the Greytown and Lansdowne clubs and people who had witnessed what had transpired.

"Nothing will be swept under the carpet, that is the bottom line," he said. "The whole situation is a disgrace and we want everything on the table."