Weekend problems follow cricket finals farce

The conduct of some of Hawera United's cricketers is again under the spotlight after its premier two-day semifinal against Inglewood turned into a farce at the weekend.

Hawera had two players sinbinned in its second innings as it crashed to an innings and 38 run loss.

The first player to be shown a yellow card was batsman Mark Cleaver late on Saturday for protesting about a team mate being dismissed leg before as Hawera was in dire trouble at 20-4 in its second innings. Then, yesterday morning, former rep player Mark Parsons was sent from the field after protesting umpire Brian Hardgrave's decision to dock Hawera five runs for alleged time wasting before play had even begun.

The comical situation was completed when Hawera was left at 45-8, with neither player allowed to bat, giving Inglewood a spot in next week's final.

Tension appeared to be high between Hardgrave, veteran fellow umpire Lyn Hotter, and the Hawera players throughout the match.

It reached its height during Ingle-wood's innings when opener Rhys Lobb appeared to edge the ball behind and started to walk from the pitch. He returned after walking several paces, however, when he realised Hotter was not going to give him out.

The behaviour of some Hawera players has been a concern to the Taranaki Cricket Association over several seasons in which it has had a number of players sinbinned and suspended.

The weekend's problems came a week after ugly scenes followed the second grade final between Hawera and eventual winner Ratapiko at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park.

Friction surfaced before a ball was even bowled in the match after Ratapiko protested about the eligibility of two of Hawera's players before the TCA ruled the pair could not play.

After the match TCA chairman Neil Sulzberger interjected an after-match speech and alleged one of the Hawera players commented "it is a better game without umpires". The Hawera player had also said he was "disgusted with the sportsmanship of Ratapiko stopping players playing in the final". The player has denied making the umpire remark.

Sulzberger was then accused of "brushing" shoulders with another Hawera player as they left the field.

The matter did not end there, however, with the chairman then allegedly abused by the father of another Hawera player.

Sulzberger subsequently responded with a scathing two-page letter to the South Taranaki club in which he said the conduct of some Hawera players clearly demonstrated their disregard for rules and officials that "every other club respects" and a "contempt for the image and reputation of both Hawera and Taranaki cricket".

"The last three seasons has seen TCA invest a considerable amount of money into the Hawera United Cricket Club with the financial support we provide to your professional coach and it is very disturbing that members within your club show blatant disrespect toward TCA," he said in the letter.

"There will be ongoing discussions between TCA and the Taranaki Umpires Association about the behaviour of your players towards the umpires."

Sulzberger would say little on the subject yesterday, other than to confirm a letter had been sent to the Hawera club and the TCA was awaiting a response. He would not comment on the latest incidents because he did not know anything about them.

"I know there is a lot of concern about what happened in the second grade final," he said.

Hawera chairman Heath Chittenden, who played in the match against Inglewood, could not be reached for comment last night.

- © Fairfax NZ News