Hawks protest following loss

The visitors accused Lithuanian Tonybet’s table officials of not being up to scratch amid claims of baskets being missed and home fouls not being recorded.

“Good table officials are vital to the game and the home team fell well short of a minimum level of competence,” said Hawks coach Richard Curtis. “This was only our second game of a season that is turning into a nightmare with a lack of organised games.”

However, following a meeting of the Warwickshire area committee, the result was allowed to stand, with chairman and league secretary Mike Maddox “satisfied” the right result was achieved.

“A member of the committee was at the game and I asked him to watch the scoreboard to make sure scores were going on and he was satisfied they were,” said Maddox, who also refereed the game.

“The scorer had done over 50 games in Lithuania and the one or two discrepancies were due to him being unfamiliar with the layout of the scoring sheet.

“As league secretary I have gone through the scoresheet and I can account for all but one of the fouls.”

Maddox did admit, however, that the late withdrawal of Warwick University had severely damaged this season’s competition.

Despite a 13-strong second tier, just five teams remain in the top flight, with efforts to secure a sixth team looking like ending in failure.

“We’ve tried the Chinese Society at Warwick University without success and Coventry University can’t get a court,” he said.

“It is disappointing all-round and something that needs to be addressed ahead of next season.

“There is a massive gulf between Divisions One and Two but we can’t have teams declining to go up. It may be that we have to promote two or even three teams at the end of the season.”