Connah's Quay Cricket Club 'disappointed' about incident

Nick Pratt, Chairman of Connah's Quay Cricket Club, told the Leader he was extremely disappointed by the incident at the team's Saturday match against Ruthin.

On a video of the match, held at Central Park in Connah's Quay, one man appears to run right through the players before pulling up one of the stumps.

The video appears to show him being pursued by another man, who was carrying an object resembling a bat.

Both men then appear to leave the field of play while shouting at each other, the first taking the stump with him before it is recovered.

Image provided by Connah's Quay Cricket Club (Image: Connah's Quay Cricket Club) The footage also appears to show a dog trailing after the pair of them as they were told to "get off the pitch."

Mr Pratt said: "I have been chairman for six years and involved with the club for ten.

"I've never seen anything like it.

"Apparently the first man was being chased by someone and I believe he pulled the stump out as an act of self-defence.

"There was no actual altercation.

"The police were called but what action I was taken I don't know - they were around the Central Park area all day."

Mr Pratt said the match was played to conclusion but he was "very disappointed in what's gone on."

He continued: "The players were as shocked as everyone else and they just attempted to de-escalate the situation.

"It was a very unusual thing to happen.

Image provided by Connah's Quay Cricket Club (Image: Connah's Quay Cricket Club)

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"We do play in an open park area and we work hard to maintain the facilities we have.

"We support the local community and have a thriving youth section."

He said the club "massively" condemns the behaviour the video appears to show, adding: "We are trying to improve the local area and Connah's Quay's profile so this was a very disappointing day for us.

"People should not be entering the field of play when a game's going on.

Image provided by Connah's Quay Cricket Club (Image: Connah's Quay Cricket Club) "It's a gentlemen's sport and that's what we try and promote at Connah's Quay."

Mr Pratt said since Saturday's match, a clip of the incident has gone "viral" online.

"We weren't expecting it," he added.

"We're trying to enhance the community and build better relationships across the board.

"It's not healthy publicity for the club."