CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING
EXETER will be fulfilling their crucial Premier Division game against Heathcoat at Knightshayes today after pressure was applied on them by the Tolchards Devon Cricket League management.
Exeter withdrew from the game on Friday lunchtime citing at least six Covid-19 cases among first-team players as they reasons they could not raise a side suitable for the fixture. It was reported at the time that they planned to honour second and third-team games at a lower level that had no important consequences on the outcomes.
Derek Taylor, the Exeter secretary, said in a the cancellation email to league officials that the club felt ‘uncomfortable’ pulling out of the game but added: “In the circumstances we feel we are obliged to do so.”
Outlining the reasons for cancelling the game, Taylor said it was: “…due to the continuing problem of Covid-19 illness and other isolations affecting players selected earlier in the week for the Premier Division game tomorrow resulting in us being unable to field as strong a representative as we would otherwise have done.”
As the outcome of the game will have a bearing on who wins the Premier Division title and which two of the teams in the bottom four are relegated, numerous clubs have an interest in it being played.
Sandford could, in theory, catch Heathcoat for the league title if they beat relegation worriers Cornwood and Heathcoat lose to Exeter.
As Exeter are one of the four sides in relegation jeopardy at the bottom, how they fare at Heathcoat will have a knock-on effect on Cornwood, Hatherleigh and Exmouth. That’s more than half of the club in the Premier Division with an interest in the outcome of one game.
David Sheppard, the league secretary, pulled no punches in his response to Exeter’s cancellation notice and warned if the club went through with it they could face a points deduction.
“There is the potential that should the match be cancelled in these circumstances it could be considered to be a conceded match, with 10 points deducted (and 20 points awarded to the opposition),” said Sheppard.
“We must be fair to all clubs, hence trying everything to get this game on. I do question whether it is an appropriate decision by you to cancel the match in this manner. Are you certain you can field 2nd and 3rd XI sides but not a 1st XI side?
“Is there not a case for selecting players from that pool of 22 players into the 1st XI to enable that game to go ahead? Surely some of those players have played up a level this year or is that not the case?”
Exeter were unwilling to provide details or digital paperwork relating to the players affected by Covid and cited personal privacy issues as the reason.
Sheppard fired back with a request for names and exact numbers – positive tests and/or self-isolation – and added: “I would ask that you please provide that evidence. I fail to see what breach of privacy occurs by you doing so?
“Screenshots of any notification of positive tests and/or isolation requests would suffice. They won’t go outside of the league management committee and will be deleted once the match day has passed.”
The Devon League has not made it mandatory to produce evidence when asking for a Covid cancellation, unlike the Cornwall League where it is not possible to call off without at least three pieces of evidence.
However, league bosses did tell clubs during a Covid update earlier in the season that they reserved the right to ask for evidence if it was deemed appropriate.
Julian Smith, the Exeter chairman, said when the news first broke his club were adhering to league rules and amendments made during the season in response to Covid developments.
Smith also questioned out loud why Exeter were being asked for medical evidence when that demand has not been made to other clubs?
Said Smith: “I understood that a side ‘Covid-weakened’ was permitted to cancel without the sort of investigation and provision of medical data you are advocating and it would seem somewhat unfair to apply different criteria to one side in just one game,” said Smith.
“Also, I understood that if the first team were weakened there was not an obligation to weaken lower elevens as well by promoting players.
“As you can imagine we are fearful of a points deduction as you infer. So maybe for tomorrow we field whatever team we can. Then in the aftermath if Exeter CC feel they have been treated unfairly, victimised even, we reserve the right to revisit the matter with you.”
Had the game not gone ahead the only clear winners would have been Heathcoat. Average points would have given them the Premier title ahead of Sandford.
With the game back on Heathcoat need six points to be sure of finishing ahead of Sandford. Pete Randerson, the Heathcoat captain, can barely wait to get out there.
“It's great to be able to play,” said Randerson.
“We have lost a lot of cricket because of the weather so it would have been a shame to have lost the chance to enjoy the last game of the summer.
“Huge credit to Exeter for digging deep and getting 11 players to play. We have lots going on today at the club and are grateful for the chance to play.
“Obviously objective one is we need six points to secure the league title. Anything more is a bonus.”
