Bangor and CI lose their bids to overturn relegation

BANGOR men and CI ladies will have to resign themselves to playing their hockey at a lower level next season after losing their appeals against relegation which they had submitted to Ulster Hockey.

After all the local leagues were halted by the Covid-19 pandemic, finishing positions were determined using ‘percentage equalisation’ — a system broadly based on points per game.

Bangor and CI, who competed in the Ulster Premier League and Senior One respectively, were deemed to have finished in penultimate place.

Had the season been completed in normal circumstances, they would have been asked to take part in a promotion/relegation play-off.

However, Ulster Hockey instead opted for a two up, two down system so the two clubs opted to exercise their right to appeal against the decision which they felt went against competition rules.

An Ulster Hockey statement confirmed: “The Appeals Panel adjudicated that neither appeal be upheld and that Ulster Hockey had acted within its competition rules and upheld its own procedures in arriving at the outcome.”

Bangor chairman Scott Parker said: “For now, I’ll just say we are extremely disappointed by the decision and we will carefully consider our options over the coming days.”

CI club captain Jenna Maghie added: “We are obviously very disappointed and feel like we have been treated very unfairly and we’ll meet to consider what more steps, if any, can be taken.”