FARNHAM'S late push for promotion hit a serious snag on Saturday when their match against Old Whitgiftians was controversially abandoned due to the condition of the Park pitch.
With the league's bottom side reduced to 83-6 and Farnham relishing the prospect of another 13 points, the umpires decided the pitch was too dangerous to play on after a protest from visiting skipper Sean Coughlan who had just been hit by a rearing delivery from Peter Dickinson.
The game was already in the 29th over and the abandonment took the players by surprise, particularly Farnham who were too stunned to put up much of a counter protest.
"Personally, I'm devastated," said Tom Hicks, Farnham's young skipper. "I wouldn't have marked the pitch highly, but there had been only a handful of deliveries that misbehaved – all at the same end. The umpires were in a difficult position, but it was a snap judgement that could effect our club severely."
Mike Leybourne, Farnham's chairman, said the club were in discussion with the league and would instigate an enquiry into the umpires' decision.
He added: "It's ironic that the Park wicket has always been regarded as low and slow, and we had plans to make it faster."
Farnham will no doubt point to the fact that, although it was Dickinson, bowling from the pavilion end, who made the ball occasionally rear as it broke through the surface, it was Patrick Murphy who did the damage with 5 for 25. Furthermore, some of the Whitgiftians batted without helmets.
The powerfully built Dickinson is an undeniably hostile bowler and several catches were dropped off his bowling.
Coughlan, who had arrived late for the match, threw his bat down in disgust after being hit by the fired-up Dickinson, and had words with the officials. Within minutes, the game was called off in blazing July sunshine.
Hicks, whose spirits were raised later in the day when he won an impromptu golf tournament, leads an under-strength Farnham against league leaders Avorians this Saturday.