BAXENDEN batsman Mark Rishton has been banned by the Jennings Ribblesdale League for 12 matches after turning up for a game against Barnoldswick earlier this season 'under the influence of alcohol'.

A disciplinary panel chaired by the League's vice president Ken Newhouse had originally banned the 24-year-old for 15 matches after the incident last month.

But Rishton appealed and the sentence was reduced at a further hearing last night in front of a four man panel chaired by League president Arthur Shaw at Blackburn Northern.

Rishton has already been banned for two games by Baxenden and that will form part of his sentence.

But he will still miss the remaining five matches of the current season plus the first five matches of next year's campaign.

And a further 12 match ban has been suspended until the end of the year 2000 season.

League secretary Rod Slater said: "Mark has been banned for 12 matches with immediate effect.

"But the two he has already served through his club will reduce that to 10."

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