Deal & Betteshanger Rugby Club’s 13-man board of directors are meeting this week to decide whether to appeal after they and East Grinstead were both found guilty of misconduct.

Both clubs have been deducted 15 points with immediate effect, with a further 15 suspended until May 31, 2012 after the London 2 South East game at the Drill Field last month was abandoned after only 20 minutes.

Referee Steve Halligan halted proceedings due to a pitch invasion with the West Sussex side leading 22-5. The game won’t be replayed and will be recorded as a 0-0 draw, with no league points awarded.

The punishments followed a RFU disciplinary panel meeting in London last Wednesday when the clubs were found guilty of "conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and/or the game contrary to rule 5.12."

The club’s Publicity and Discipline Director Dave Donachie, speaking on Tuesday, said: "We have yet to receive the official letter from the RFU but have 14 days to appeal and it’s highly likely that we will."

"We are disappointed and feel the sanctions are right at the top of the available tariff. The RFU may well have done this to send out a message to other clubs around the country."

The points deduction, when confirmed, would see eighth placed Deal drop to second bottom in the table, ahead of winless Surrey side Purley John Fisher, who they thrashed 59-7 at home on
Saturday.

Donachie added: "The news seemed to galvanise the players and we picked up a maximum of five points from the game."

The return game at East Grinstread take place on February 5.