HALESOWEN skipper Richard Brooker has praised his side for showing character in their big win over league leaders Tamworth.

Brooker also said the previous week’s controversy when their game was abandoned without a ball bowled was firmly put out of the system.

The club had complained to the league about the decision to abandon their clash with Stratford and umpire Roy Froggatt has since resigned on hearing an enquiry into he matter would be launched.

However, Hales now approach the second half of the season with renewed optimism and travel to Old Elizabethans this Saturday (noon start).

Brooker said: “It was important that we bounced back from the controversy of last week, which has now been comprehensively and expeditiously dealt with by the Birmingham League Management Board.

“This allowed us to concentrate on the cricket again. We now lie fifth with three games to go to the half-way stage and we know we are a second-half of the season team so it augurs well.”

Hales won the toss and inserted Tamworth in muggy conditions. Eddie Rhodes once again shone with the ball, pegging Tamworth back to a meagre 109 all-out he picked up 7- 49 off 16 overs ably supported by Dylan Ross-Watt with 2-27.

Halesowen then stuck to their task to see off tight bowling from the table-toppers with Kester Moseley (39*) and Wes Griffiths (23*) seeing the side home to win by six wickets with plenty of overs to spare.

Following the resignation of umpire Froggatt, the chairman of the umpires sub-committee, Bill Tansell, said: “After receiving reports from the Halesowen groundsman and the first XI captains of Halesowen and Stratford-upon-Avon, the general manager of the league, Nick Archer, was requested to open an enquiry into the circumstances that lead to the abandonment.

“There were a number of discrepancies between the verbal and written reports that were received from Mr. Froggatt, as the senior umpire on the day, and the reports submitted by the groundsman and both captains. As a result of these discrepancies, the league’s umpires’ appointments officer, Alan Seville, was requested to stand down Mr Froggatt from his league fixtures until the enquiry had been completed.

“When Mr Seville contacted Mr Froggatt to inform him of this decision, Mr Froggatt said he was resigning from the panel.”

Meanwhile, whilst the second team were once again abandoned for the fourth time this season, the thirds and fourths managed to dodge the showers.

At Kidderminster the third team tried to chase down a mammoth 343-5 and nearly succeeded ending on 332-7 just 22 runs short.

Notable performances came from 14 year old Hayden Evans (95) Luke Miley (71) and Scott Jones (40*) and the team will take much heart from a rejuvenated display.

Meanwhile, the fourth team continued at the top of the league with a comprehensive victory over Ross-on-Wye.

Batting first Halesowen clocked up 184-8 with Archie Reeves (52) and Raqeeb Khan (35) being the mainstays. In reply Ross struggled to 129 all out with wickets for Rob Reeves (3-11) and Matt Slater (2-18).

This Saturday sees the seconds at home to Wolverhampton (12.30pm), thirds at home to Oldswinford (1pm) and fourths visit their Oldswinford counterparts (1pm).