Abingdon Vale 2nd batsman Dave Ward has been banned for the first four games of next season by The Oxford Times Cherwell League.

He received the suspension after being found guilty by a disciplinary hearing of a breach of the league's code of conduct.

It came after he was involved in an incident with Tiddington 2nd fielder Richard Evans in Division 6 on the final day of the season.

He was charged under 1.1.4 of the league's code of conduct, which states 'players and team officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an umpire, another player or a spectator'.

League secretary Peter Tomlin said: "It was handbags more than anything, but he did make an intimidatory movement towards him.

"We have got to cut this out and we felt we had to do something about it."

Tomlin added that Abingdon had held their own inquiry into the incident - and had suspended Ward for two games - the ban to run concurrently with the league suspension.

Ward hit an unbeaten 102 in the game to help Abingdon to a ten-wicket win.

Ward has accepted his punishment, but is disappointed that Evans wasn't charged for his role in the incident.

"I accept the punishment - that is not in question.

"I should not have risen to the bait. I know retaliation can't be condoned, but if he had not said those words in the first place we would not have had the hearing."

Aston Rowant and Milton Keynes Park are the latest clubs to fall foul of The Oxford Times Cherwell League's tough stance on administrative irregularities.

Rowant's 3rd XI, who finished runners-up in Division 9A, have been denied promotion for fielding a player under an assumed name.

And Milton Keynes Park 2nd have been relegated from Division 5 to 6 for failing to submit report forms.

Divisional winners will receive their prizes at the league's presentation night at The Spread Eagle Hotel, Thame, tonight.

Don Pert, known by many in the local cricketing world as 'Mr Challow & Childrey', has died at the age of 73.