Cricket Shepparton officials have handed down suspensions to a pair of Pine Lodge Cricket Club players following a recent SJ Perry Shield match.
Two members of Pine Lodge’s D-grade outfit, Beauden Webber and Braydon Kearns, received sanctions on Friday for an incident that occurred on February 19.
Webber received four set penalties, while Kearns received one during the round 14 clash against Central Park-St Brendan’s at Kialla West Recreation Reserve.
Webber was offered and has accepted a seven-match suspension from the incident.
The Pine Lodge player was charged with three separate level two penalties via rule 43.2 table 4B.
Webber was charged under penalty (i) that a player “show serious dissent at an umpire’s decision including in social media”, penalty (ii) where a player “engage in inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with other players or officials”.
The third level two penalty (vi) offence via rule 43.2 table 4B that a player “use language that is obscene, offensive or of a generally insulting nature to another player, official or spectator including in social media”.
Webber was also charged with one count of dissent towards an umpire under level three (i) offence table 4C, in which a player is found to “intimidate or attempt to intimidate an umpire or referee whether by language or conduct”.
Meanwhile, Kearns was offered a one-week suspension from the same game.
As captain during that match, Kearns — who was filling in for the club’s D-grade captain — failed to adhere to various captain duties under rule 43, The Code — which included (f) “the captain will encourage players to respect the umpire’s decisions” and (i) “the captain is fully responsible for his team’s behaviour on and off the field”.
Kearns sat out last weekend’s win over Katandra and will now be available for selection for the upcoming round 16 contest against Shepparton United.
Cricket Shepparton said it did not condone abuse towards umpires.
“It’s disappointing to see this type of behaviour still happen. It’s not acceptable,” a league spokesperson said.
“The league does not condone abusive behaviour towards an umpire or player.”
The recent incident follows three Cricket Shepparton players who were each suspended last month.
Meanwhile, Cricket Shepparton has changed the date for its presentation ceremony.
The event will now take place on Wednesday, March 16 at the Sherbourne Terrace.
Lastly, this weekend’s C-grade qualifying final between Undera and Karramomus has been changed to the main oval at Vibert Reserve.