Cricketing trio banned: Ump abuse, clash with fan

A CRICKET captain and two of his teammates have been banned for up to four matches after a fiery semi-final that included umpire abuse and a clash with a spectator.

07/04/14 Matthew Rogers 26 of Wynn Vale (Captain, Pooraka A1 Turf Cricket Club) at Lindblom Park. Matthew was picked in the Adelaide Turf Team of the Year for 2013/14 at an Adelaide Turf Cricket Association presentation on 26/3/14. Picture Stephen Laffer

A CRICKET captain and two of his teammates have been banned for up to four matches after a fiery semi-final clash in Adelaide.

Three Pooraka players have received suspensions, including one for an altercation with a spectator, following the heated Adelaide Turf Cricket Association Twenty20 match.

An independent tribunal has found the players guilty of the following:

ROCCO Illuminato, clashing with a fan

Rocco Illuminato has been found guilty of clashing with a spectator.

PAUL Cree, abusing an umpire, and

CAPTAIN Matt Rogers, failing to control his players.

The incidents relate to the club’s match against Walkerville at Walkerville Oval on January 20 but the formal rulings were only handed down last week.

Illuminato received a four-match ban, Cree copped three and Rogers also got three games, though one was suspended.

The matchday umpire had reported Illuminato for headbutting a spectator but the charge was downgraded on appeal.

Pooraka chairman Sam Kelly said the match was tight and became heated in the closing stages.

Kelly said Illuminato collided with a spectator while making his way off the ground after the crowd had moved onto the oval.

“It wasn’t really a headbutt, just a bit of incidental contact,” Kelly said.

Walkerville won in a bowl-off after the teams had both finished 6/140 after their 20 overs.

“It wasn’t a good look for the game so we’re accepting our penalties,” Kelly said.

“We’re just trying to move on from it now and the boys will serve their suspensions.

“It’s disappointing for sure.”

Association chief executive David Heyzer was at the game but would not comment specifically on the bans.

“The behaviour of some of the Pooraka players was not up to the standard of some of the players I would expect from any club, let alone an A1 (top-flight) club,” Heyzer said.

The association also docked 15 points from the Bulls’ 2015/16 Twenty20 campaign.

Walkerville declined to comment on the incident.