DDCA: Narre Warren crushed by removal from junior grand final

A junior club that launched a last-minute legal appeal to play in an under-14s grand final last week has been left crushed by the result before hitting out at league officials.

Narre Warren vice-president Shane Simpson says his club has been left questioning the role of the rule book after Tuesday night’s hearing ultimately removed his under-14 side from the Dandenong District Cricket Association finals.

The Magpies originally introduced lawyers into their appeal over the eligibility of a Buckley Ridges 12th player in a semi-final played on March 4 and 5.

On Tuesday night, the appeal was denied, meaning Buckley Ridges – which won the match in question – will now play the grand final against Berwick.

Dandenong District junior rules state that competing sides are allowed to use 12 players, provided all players that bowl also bat, and the 12th player bats before a returning retired batter.

The disagreement surrounds the timing of approval from DDCA vice-president (juniors) Robert Williams on the 12th player’s involvement in the match.

“You might as well throw the rule book out the window because it obviously doesn’t mean anything,” Simpson said.

“The rules are in black and white.

“I went to the VMCU and asked for clarification and they’ve looked at it and gone ‘there should be an appeals process’.

“There is no appeals process for rules and permits, for tribunal there are appeals, but rules and permits there is no appeal process.

“I know the kids have been hanging on this decision, I have had that many phone calls from parents and messages from kids on WhatsApp, all wanting to know what’s going on.

“They feel harshly done by because even 13-year-old kids know the rule.”

Berwick will now officially meet Buckley Ridges in the grand final.

Simpson clarified his frustration surrounding the appeal process rather than the opposition.

“After this, they (DDCA) have decided they now need to have a rule and permit appeals process,” he said.

“Our annoyance is not all with them (Buckley Ridges), it’s the process, if you ask around, everyone will say the same thing.”

Buckley Ridges president Sonny De Silva holds no hostility towards Narre Warren over the disagreement and states that his club followed instructions given to them.

“We followed exactly what the league advised us,” he said.

“We don’t want any animosity or anything, I am a fair person and that’s the way I want to lead Buckley, by doing the right thing.

“We followed what we were told, and then defended our position.”

Robert Williams declined to comment.