Tullamarine will not appeal NWMCA disqualification after brawl

UPDATE: Tullamarine will not pursue a last-ditch appeal to overturn its NWMCA Shield ban but has strongly defended its players’ role in a semi-final brawl.

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UPDATE: Tullamarine has decided not to pursue an appeal to the Victorian Metropolitan Cricket Union to overturn its NWMCA Shield disqualification.

The North West Metropolitan Cricket Association dismissed the club’s initial appeal on Thursday night but it was determined to exonorate its players.

The decision means the grand final, which was due to be played on Saturday, will not go ahead and the premiership will be awarded to Roxburgh Park.

Tullamarine secretary Justin Shield told Leader the club was disappointed and maintained its innocence

“As disappointed as we are as a club, we will not be taking any further actions but strongly believe we are innocent,” he said.

Tullamarine will not pursue its appeal further.

Before deciding against the appeal, Shield revealed he was at Gladstone Park Reserve on the day.

“As a spectator that was there and speaking with our whole club, we believe we’re strongly innocent,” he said.

On Monday both Tullamarine and Strathmore Heights were kicked out of finals after a brawl ended in last Saturday’s semi-final being abandoned.

Individual players from Tullamarine’s Third XI and Strathmore Heights’ Fourth XI are also facing suspensions with association investigations ongoing.

The association determined Tullamarine did not provide sufficient new evidence to overturn the ban in its initial appeal.

“They didn’t produce anything different to the original hearing, which found both clubs contributed to the situation,” CEO Bob Byron said.

“Perhaps one more than the other but both clubs contributed and the game was abandoned without an actual result.

“We’ve been through an exhaustive process, we had a completely new committee look at the appeal and they came to the same decision.”

The incident occurred during the semi-final clash at Gladstone Park Reserve on February 27.

Police had to be called after violence spilled over in the second innings, arriving to find a 19-year-old man with facial injuries, but no formal complaints were lodged.

The game was abandoned with Strathmore Heights 6-35 chasing Tullamarine’s 8-130.

Strathmore Heights released a statement saying it accepted the NWMCA’s decision and was working with players to ensure it didn’t happen again.

“Strathmore Heights Cricket Club has taken this situation very seriously and accepts the decisions made by the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association,” the statement read.

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“We are working very closely with the NWMCA board as well as our players involved in the incident.

“We have participated in a fair and appropriate process to determine the relevant actions required from both the association and within our club.

“Members from our executive committee have also met with representatives from the team to discuss the seriousness of the incident and the potential consequences.

“The NWMCA board has advised that further investigations are required over the coming weeks to identify potential players who may deserve to be individually sanctioned.”