By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 11:38, Tuesday, 24 July 2012

Two amateur rugby teams have been fined and a player banned from the game for two years after violence marred a game before a 400-strong crowd.

Trouble erupted during the cup final

The Dale Campbell-Savours Cup Final at Lowca between Kells A and Flimby was halted at the beginning of the second half after a player left the field to confront a spectator.

He was then seen grappling with the man, and a brawl developed.

At a two-hour disciplinary meeting in Maryport, the Cumberland Amateur Rugby League management committee imposed £400 fines on both clubs for abandonment and bringing the game into disrepute.

Two hundred pounds of each fine was suspended for a year.

The league’s chairman Roger Blair confirmed that the Kells player Martin Thompson, the player who left the pitch and confronted a spectator, has been banned from playing within Cumberland ARL for two years.

This morning Kells announced that the club would appeal against the length of the ban.

The clubs have seven days in which to lodge an appeal with the National Amateur Rugby League Association.

Mr Blair said today: “Both clubs will now be aware of what happened last night.

“The seriousness with which this was viewed by the committee is clearly demonstrated by the fines handed out and thesuspension.

“We had to respond as a committee when you have young kids watching and something like this happens; they are impressionable. We fully support what was done at the game by referee David Askew.”

The final involved was staged at Lowca on Saturday July 14.

Eye witnesses said there had been verbal abuse directed at players by some members of the crowdduring the game but no playing that was dirty.

First published at 11:24, Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk