BOURNEMOUTH are set to challenge the Dorset Cricket League’s decision to hit them with points deductions for the late payment of fees.

Four of the Chapel Gate outfit’s Saturday and Sunday teams were docked 40 points after the club missed a March 31 deadline to stump up their affiliation fees and league subscription.

Bournemouth – who admit they were around three weeks late with the payments – were also fined £100, which they have paid. However, they claim that, as the fees were received by the league before the start of the season, they should not suffer the added penalty of the points deductions.

The Dorset Cricket League’s regulations state that “any club which has not paid its DCA affiliation fees and league subscription by March 31 shall be fined £100 and have 40 points deducted per team for every league match played until such time as payment is made”.

Voted for unanimously at the league’s last annual general meeting in November, the new rule is highlighted in red on the league’s website. A league spokesperson confirmed that out of 86 clubs, only one had failed to meet the deadline.

Bournemouth chairman Rob Coombs confirmed the club would be writing to the league for clarification. He told the Daily Echo: “By their rules, the deduction should not apply and we will challenge it. It’s there in red and white in their own regulations.”

A league spokesperson told the Daily Echo that the points had come off once the March 31 deadline had been missed. The Bournemouth teams affected by the deductions are in Saturday Division One and Division Seven, and Sunday Division One and Division Five.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth recorded their fifth Division One win of the season on Sunday when they crushed local rivals Christchurch by 178 runs.

Tom Wilkinson and Simon Ridley set about the Christchurch attack from the off, their 181 opening partnership laying the foundations for Bournemouth’s 308 for five.

Wilkinson (108) and Ridley (82) received support from Jonny Coombs (32) and Ed Denham (25), while Brett Custard (2-54) and John Goodchild (2-80) had some success with the ball.

In reply, Gareth Thomas (23), Tom Hughes (22) and James Dugan (21) all made starts, but Christchurch were shot out for 130 (Simon Ridley 3-26, Rob Coombs 2-16, Pete Smith 2-16).

  • Kingston Lacy claimed pole position for the first time this season after registering a 45-run victory over Cranborne.

Brothers Nick (43) and James Park (37) put on 92 for the first wicket before Mark House (38) helped Lacy reach 205 for eight.

Although Andrew Loader chipped in with 23, Cranborne were always up against it and tail-ender David Coy (25) ensured some respectability as they were dismissed for 160 (Rob Hatchard 3-34, House 3-42, Greg Parsons 3-50).

Lacy skipper Parsons said: “It’s nice to go top of the table but it’s still early days. We will keep plugging away and see where it takes us at the end of the season.”

  • Studland surrendered top spot after suffering their first defeat of the season – by 23 runs again-st Henstridge. Blandford beat Poole by 37 runs, while Parley toppled St Georges by 27 runs.