P.S.N.I. APPEAL THROWN OUT

Thu 23rd Feb 2006

AFTER STRABANE RFC BEAT THE PEELERS FAIR AND SQUARE IN THE GORDON WEST CUP ON THE 11TH FEBRUARY, THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT THEIR DEFEAT AND PUT IN A COMPLAINT TO THE ULSTER BRANCH. THE BASIS OF THEIR ALLEGATION WAS THAT WE HAD FIELDED AN INELEGIBLE PLAYER - A CHAP CALLED GREG MITCHELL, WHO USED TO PLAY PROFESSIONALLY, BUT HAS BEEN RETIRED SINCE NOVEMBER. WHERE THE POLICE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA THAT ANOTHER TEAM WOULD FIELD A SENIOR PLAYER THAT DID NOT BELONG TO THEIR CLUB IS BEYOND ME. A TEAM AS HONEST AND SPORTING AS THE P.S.N.I. MUST SURELY HAVE BEEN LEAD ASTRAY BY THE EXAMPLE OF OTHERS.

THE GORDON WEST CUP COMMITTEE MET ON TUESDAY EVENING ( 22nd ) AND THEY ENDORSED STRABANE'S ACTIONS AND WERE SATISFIED THAT GREG WAS OUR PLAYER, THUS PROGRESSING US TO THE SECOND ROUND, WHERE WE PLAY BALLYSHANNON AT HOME. WE HOPE THE POLICE ARE NOT TOO UPSET AT THE DECISION, AND LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THEM AGAIN NEXT SEASON.

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