Hanwood reinstated after Hanmer thrown out

Hanmer secured their spot in the final promotion-relegation play-off on Monday with a 7-5 victory, with their opener Paul Hallott beating Dave Burton 21-16.

But Hallott has been deemed ineligible after playing just one league match for Hanmer all season, contrary to the rules concerning non-Premier League clubs in the play-offs.

A league statement read: "To be eligible to compete in a play-off match, a selected player must not have played in any Premier League game in that season.

"Any player must have played at least six league games in that season for the team that is wishing to join the league.

"In the event of a team being unable to provide a full compliment of players then the Management Committee – whose decision shall be final and binding – will rule on the eligibility of other players."

Other options available to the committee included replaying the match without Hallott, or allowing the result to stand as permission was given for him to play by league secretary Mark Burroughs.

They have ruled that Hallott's opponent Burton is awarded the match by a 21-0 scoreline and the match is awarded to Hanwood.

Burroughs moved in the statement to give his reasons on why Hallott was allowed to play, after the player was first put to him. League chairman John Nash informed Hanmer of the decision.

Burroughs said: "On the basis that Paul was not able to fulfil the minimum of six league matches on a Friday for the Market Drayton side, I did give Dave permission to play him.

"That was on the basis that he was a genuine Hanmer club member and that he played for another side within the club.

"Unfortunately, I did not establish at the time that he would only play one league match during the season and either I did not ask the right question or I did not understand what Dave said."

Hanwood now play the Premier League's bottom club, Archibald Worthington, at Hadley USC on Friday night for a spot in the top flight.