Western Stars have received six points for last Saturday's postponed match against St.David's which was supposed to get underway at St.John's Field.

St.David's blatantly refused to play the match in protest at the banning of fast bowler Mackie Crane who received punishment for aborting a `practice' match while playing for Bermuda's Under-21s against an Under-19 squad.

"All I can say is that they (the Bermuda Cricket Board) have made their decision and we will have to live with that," confirmed St.David's official Delby Borden yesterday.

"It's water under the bridge and we are just going to get on with our season and try to finish in the top three and win back the Eastern Counties. We also have our eyes set on winning at least one of the KO trophies this summer."

Crane had action taken against him after leaving the pitch without notifying the coaches during the recent warm-up match at the National Sports Centre.

St.David's did not take to the pitch in protest because of a general consensus among the team that Crane was not dealt with fairly.

Islanders skipper, Clay Smith, later publicly stated that both coach Mark Harper and BCB treasurer Neil Speight had been informed two days prior to the match against Stars about the possibility that the team may take some form of action. Smith said that provided the BCB with ample time to try and diffuse the situation.

Meanwhile, the Islanders also had a submitted written protest with regard to last Sunday's controversial one-run loss to St.George's thrown out at a BCB meeting held earlier this week.

That incident unravelled when St.George's spinner, Travis Smith, bowled two deliveries of an 11th over. St.David's cracked seven runs off those two balls but were later forced to forfeit the runs while their tenants went on to win a close match. Under the current rules, a player is permitted to bowl only ten overs, but if an over is started then it must be completed.

Meanwhile, that dispute has prompted a reaction from St. George's captain Gregg Foggo.

In a letter to The Royal Gazette (see Page 18) Foggo criticises the actions of St. David's.

With respect to the cricket match between St.George's and St.David's on Sunday, May 11,

"Regarding the 11th over issue, the umpires came together and made their decision; despite some high ranking St.David's Cricket Club committee members coming onto the field and attempting to dictate to the umpires what they should or should not do," wrote Foggo.

"My hat goes off to both (umpires) Mr. (Stephen) West and Mr. (Leroy) Wilson, because you made a decision that you thought was right and stuck to it.

"There is no guarantee that the seven runs from the disallowed over would have ensured St.David's won the game.

"Who knows? St.George's dropped four critical catches and St.David's dropped six crucial catches.

"These missed chances could have swayed the outcome of the match one way or another . . .

"As we all know the game of cricket is unpredictable and anything can happen. But we must all remember that out on the cricket pitch the umpires are in charge and respect the decisions that they make."