Deal & Betteshanger have revealed their ‘disappointment’ after the club’s appeal against their 15-point deduction was thrown out by an RFU disciplinary panel in London last week.

The club were punished following a mass brawl between players and spectators during the London 2 South East home game with East Grinstead on October 30.

The ugly scenes led to the game being abandoned by referee Steve Halligan after 18 minutes with the visitors already 22-5 ahead.

Both clubs were found guilty of misconduct and also received another 15-point deduction, suspended until the end of next season.

Deal & Betts appealed the judgement, a club statement claiming that: "While it was never claimed that Deal & Betts had no case to answer, it was felt that, on balance, they deserved a lesser punishment than East Grinstead and that the sanction should be reduced."

The statement revealed the five Deal directors present at the hearing used a powerpoint presentation of DVD footage from the match to deliver their case: "in an attempt to demonstrate that what turned a scuffle into a brawl was brought on by the actions of opposition players and spectators, not those from Deal & Betts, who in the main reacted to provocations but did not initiate them."

After a two-person panel decided to dismiss the appeal, the club said: "Feeling they had a good case, the club are naturally disappointed (but) the sanction has been upheld and the club must live with it."