Sport
20 September, 2024
Bulls see red
POMBORNEIT Cricket Club has lost its appeal to move its three senior men’s sides out of the South West Cricket Association and into the Colac District.
In July this year the Bulls launched an appeal with the Victorian Country Cricket League (VCCL) following South West Cricket Association’s decision not to allow the move – and was successful.
However, South West took up its ‘right to appeal’ the decision under VCCL Bylaw 24.
According to VCCL president, Kelvin White, the organisation asked Cricket Victoria to provide an independent appeal panel to decide if there were sufficient grounds for appeal, and, to hear the appeal if deemed required.
“After determining there were sufficient grounds for an appeal, the external panel has subsequently decided in favour of South West Cricket,” Mr White said.
“So while the process was properly managed by the VCCL, it did not make the ultimate decision.”
The panel’s decision to uphold South West Cricket Association’s initial decision (not to allow Pomborneit to move out of the South West) has been met with disappointed by the Bulls.
In a statement released this week, Pomborneit Cricket Club said it was “bewildered by the ridiculously long process that we have been made to go through.”
The statement read as follows:
The Pomborneit Cricket Club is disappointed by the decision of the Victorian Country Cricket League (VCCL) Appeal Tribunal to overturn the club’s proposed move of its three senior men’s teams to the Colac District Cricket Association for the 2024/25.
In particular, the club is bewildered by the ridiculously long process that we have been made to go through, with our successful appeal to the VCCL occurring on July 21st.
The resulting appeal from South West Cricket incomprehensibly was not heard until more than seven weeks later; a situation that reflects poorly on the VCCL and its leadership and has massively interrupted the season preparations for both South West Cricket and the Colac District Cricket Association.
It has been extremely disappointing that the VCCL and the regional Western Waves governing body has done nothing to stop the exodus of clubs from the South West competition in recent years and has only now, in this situation, made the effort to intervene in the proposed move of a club.
The Pomborneit senior men’s playing group has committed to regroup and give their all in the South West competition for the 2024/25 season.
The club committee will maintain regular contact with our membership base and continue conversations about the club’s future direction.
We hope to engage positively with South West Cricket and its member clubs in the upcoming season and in discussion about the future direction of cricket in our region.