HORWICH’S originally scheduled opponents in Sunday’s Lancashire Knockout cricket competition say they are going to appeal against being kicked out.

Vertex, of the Greater Manchester Amateur League, beat Rainford in the previous round of the competition, but the Liverpool Competition club were reinstated due to Vertex allegedly fielding two ineligible players.

Horwich beat Rainford comfortably on Sunday, but, if Vertex’s appeal to the Lancashire Cricket Board is successful, the Bolton League club may have to replay the round against them.

Vertex secretary Sajid Sohail said his club had given the umpire their team sheet but two of the players on it did not turn up for the start of the game.

He said he told the umpire Vertex would play with two other players until the pair turned up, but when the two players did not turn up after 40 minutes he said he told the umpire they would continue with the 11 currently playing.

Mr Sohail claimed the umpire did not write the new players’ names on the team sheet.

“It was a mistake, but it was a mistake by the umpire,” he said.

"Before the match started I gave the umpires our players' names.

"Two players did not turn up. We had three other players and I told the umpire we would play with two players because two players had not turned up.

"After 40 minutes (of the game) I stopped the game and told the umpire we would play with the 11 on the ground.

"After the game the umpire gave them (Rainford) the team (sheet).

"The umpire said I did not tell him we would play with the 11 on the ground. I said why did I stop the game to tell him we would play with the 11 on the ground.

"We are going to appeal. It was a mistake by the umpire."