Devon Meadows’ bid to join Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association fails

The Panthers have outlined their future plans after being rejected by the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association.

Devon Meadows batsman Kyle Salerno cuts in a WGCA game against Merinda Park. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Devon Meadows president Mick Floyd only needed a short sentence to sum up his reaction.

“It is what it is,” he said.

The Panthers’ application to join the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association was rejected on Friday.

Floyd said he was “disappointed’’ but understanding.

Devon Meadows had put in months of work and a great deal of emotion in a bid to depart the West Gippsland Cricket Association after 52 years and join the MPCA, which it felt was a better fit for it.

The Panthers needed a majority vote of 75 percent from the MPCA’s 37 affiliated clubs but it was not achieved.

The stumbling block was the creation of a bye in MPCA Sub District ranks, where Devon Meadows was slated to play.

“We would like to thank the Devon Meadows Cricket Club, the WGCA and all MPCA clubs for the time, effort and thought they put into this process,” the MPCA said.

“The MPCA will continue to work with any club wishing to join our association to further build the MPCA competition, in consultation with our existing clubs, in the most fair and equitable way for all.”

Devon Meadows Cricket Club president Mick Floyd.

Floyd was philosophical.

“Yeah, disappointed, but ultimately it’s a decision for MPCA clubs and they made the decision,” he said,

“There’s not really a lot more I can add.

“I understand the reasons why they voted the way they did.

“We thank the MPCA for the chance to present our case and there’s no dramas in any of that regard.

“It’s just the way the cookie crumbles, I guess.”

Devon Meadows will continue playing in the West Gippsland association in 2021-22.

“We will be playing in the West Gippy comp and hopefully taking bulk wickets and making lots of runs and winning games there,” Floyd said.

Asked if the Panthers would try again to join the MPCA next year, Floyd said: “We will certainly keep the discussion open with the MPCA. I’d have to go back to the club I suppose, back to the membership, and see what their view is.”

WGCA president Rob Hansen said Devon Meadows would continue to be a valued member of the association.

“At the meeting we held which was an extraordinary general meeting, the motion that was moved was that we would approve their departure conditional upon them being accepted by MPCA,” he said

“So it sort of had an out clause I suppose to cover that situation.”