WEYMOUTH Cricket Club will be appealing to the Dorset League against Glen Dawson's 18-match ban.

The New Zealand fast bowler was handed the punishment after writing an obscenity across a picture of Colehill opponent Carl Brissett before the two sides met in a top of the table clash at Redlands last month.

Dawson hung the photograph on his team dressing room wall where it was spotted by Brissett and officials of the visiting side.

The incident was reported to match umpires prior to Weymouth's 10-wicket victory and a complaint was made to the league.

The Seasiders responded immediately by suspending their player for the rest of the season ahead of a disciplinary committee meeting which was held last week (Sept 19-25).

League officials found both Dawson guilty of 'gross misconduct' and the Seasiders of 'bringing the game into disrepute'. The team were deducted 35 points which saw them lose their runners-up spot behind champions Poole.

Secretary Michael Pearce said: "Following a meeting of the Weymouth committee, it has been decided that we will be appealing against both Glen's ban and the points deduction.

"As a club we feel the punishment is too harsh and does not fit the crime. There was nothing sinister or racially motivated about what Glen did. It was an ill-advised dressing room prank designed to motivate the players before the game, which badly back-fired.

"The club doesn't condone what he did in any way. Proof of that came when the Weymouth committee took immediate action and decided to ban him for the remainder of the season."

He added: "We have the right to appeal within seven days of being officially informed of the league's action by letter. We have now received that and are preparing our case accordingly."

If the league, as expected, throw out the Seasiders' appeal, speculation is mounting that the Redlands-based club may decide to quit the competition in favour of either the Southern or Western Leagues.