The appeal of the Calverhall crown green bowler against a ban imposed by the Shropshire association has been put on hold – at the request of the county body, writes MALCOLM FLETCHER.

And the news adds to the mystery surrounding an unscheduled meeting of the county executive tonight at Meole Brace BC, for which there is no agenda.

Calverhall chairman Alan Ratcliffe and John Wynn were both banned from playing competitively for a year, and their club fined £250, after they ran a doubles competition on the day Shropshire won the Crosfield Cup — after being refused the necessary permission a number of times by the county association.

The competition was run, as usual, in conjunction with Calverhall’s Family Fun Day and Ratcliffe decided to appeal against what he felt was the “very, very harsh” punishment imposed. He lodged his appeal and £50 fee with British association chief executive John Crowther, but the process has not started yet.

“I have been asked to hold on for a bit by their county association,” confirmed Wirral-based Crowther. “But whether the county are having a change of mind I don’t know,” he added.

He confirmed he had received numerous letters of support for Calverhall – which would all go on file in case the appeal process actually goes ahead.