Devonshire Recreation Club have thrown Social Club's cricket season into disarray by refusing the latter use of their ground for home matches.

This 11th-hour news has the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) scrambling to find an alternative venue for Social Club's opening match tomorrow against Bailey's Bay - originally scheduled for Devonshire Rec.

What makes the situation even more astounding is that Devonshire Rec.'s president, Ellsworth Christopher, is also the second vice-president of the Board. Christopher could not be reached for comment yesterday.

However, BCB executive Neil Speight yesterday confirmed Devonshire's decision not to permit Social Club the use of their pitch.

"As far as we know Social Club don't have a field," Speight confirmed.

"From what we've heard from Devonshire Recreation Club is that they will not be hosting them and it kind of leaves Social Club in a mire.

"The only field for Social Club to use would be Rec. because all of the other fields are already in use. We only have eight available fields."

Asked what course of action may possibly ensue in the event that Social Club fail to obtain an alternative venue, Speight simply replied: "I don't know."

While the Board seemed mystified by the matter, Social Club didn't hide their disgust with Sports Chairman Fred (Pinks) Lewis blasting Devonshire for their action.

"We sent them (Devonshire) a letter earlier this year officially requesting to use their field for the upcoming season," explained Lewis.

"And they in return sent us a letter stating that we can't use the field because they want to make it a better strip. So we are now trying to secure another field elsewhere."

Christopher was reported to have stated during a BCB executive meeting on Tuesday that Devonshire will not be sharing their field with anybody else this season.

BCB officials are also understood to have looked into the prospect of having Social Club play their home matches at the National Sports Centre. But that move would be costly as the Centre comes with a heavy price tag.

Lewis said he was also aware of a bitter feud involving his club and Devonshire stemming from Social Club's final game of the 2002 season against Willow Cuts.

Unlike several other teams who had fixtures postponed for varying reasons and were awarded a no result, Social Club and Willow Cuts were still allowed to play their match. Cuts won the match to overhaul Devonshire and clinch the final promotion spot.

Some, including Lewis, view Devonshire's latest stance as a form of reprisal.

"I can't see why they would want to do that because we also played them (Devonshire) when we weren't supposed to play," he said.

"So if they want to take an attitude against us because we played against Cuts then that's bad sportsmanship. If that's the real cause then that's the reason why clubs are the way they are now.

"We have no harmony among the clubs. Everyone is just worrying about trying to win instead of trying to promote the sport."

Lewis said it didn't matter how a team won, as long as they won it on the field.

"I hate teams getting promotion from office work," he declared. "You are only showing your cricketers that if you can't get your way then to hell with them.

"Then you do whatever you can against them - and that's just not good for the sport."