AXFORDS BOLTON CRICKET LEAGUE

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING

HELD AT BRADSHAW C.C.

27^th MARCH 2006

Apologies: Bill Stevenson, Eric Smith.

Minutes of the February Meeting: These had been circulated and were approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising: After considerable discussion about the short and long term future of the Bolton Cricket Website, funding and ownership, it was agreed Tony Hayes and Simon Thomson should meet with Paul Rayment. The Committee agreed for the time being any revenue generated by the site should belong to Paul.

May Barlow was asked to look into specific funding from “Sportsmatch”, to compliment the sponsorship from Axfords.

Although a few details are still to be resolved, it looks like the Axfords Indoor KO will be played at Bolton School next January.

Correspondence: League Cricket Conference Handbooks and a brochure about “Katchet” fielding boards were distributed. The LCC legal update will be E-mailed to clubs.

Umpires: Following intervention from the ECB, there are concerns about the future of the ACU&S.

There will be a captains / umpires meeting at Little Lever C.C. Wednesday 19^th April at 7.30pm. Clubs will be fined £25 per team if their first and second team captains, or a playing representative of both does not attend.

Juniors: A child welfare leaflet stating which club members require CRB checks or self-certification has been sent to junior reps along with the minutes of the last meeting.

If the start of the senior season is put back it has been normal practice to delay the start of the junior season, but a final decision will be left to the junior committee.

Nine clubs, Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Farnworth, Farnworth S.C., Greenmount, Heaton, Horwich, Walkden and Westhoughton have expressed a wish to play under 9s cricket on a friendly basis. Monday is the favoured evening for these matches.

Tonge will be playing under 13 friendlies.

Concern was expresses that groundsmen are experiencing difficulties due to the amount of junior cricket being played.

The Bolton League under 18 team will be playing a team from Cumbria away on 1^st May. Fixtures will be arranged against a West Indian touring team in late summer. The match organisers are asked to take into consideration the strength of the touring team.

The next meeting is 13^th April.

Registrations and Competitions Report: There has been one transfer, James Reynard (Heaton to Horwich).

Mike Hall reported that at a meeting of the R&C Committee and members of our Umpires’ Association there had been little support for the introduction of a recommendation for leg-side wides. Consequently umpires will remain guided by Laws 25 and 42.

Documentation for transfers and registrations has not changed, but can be supported by E-mail. In the absence of Ron Fallows, documentation should be sent to Mike Hall. Members of the R&C Committee have agreed not to sign transfer forms for players from their own clubs.

The R&C Committee proposed, and the Committee accepted without dissent the following fines for teams not having a scorer or operational scoreboard in senior matches (separate offences), £10 first offence, £20 subsequent offences.

As there was some concern about the following fines, they will be used as guidelines by the R&C Committee, unless a club requests a hearing due to exceptional circumstances; clubs failing to fulfil an U13, U15 or U18 fixture will be fined £10 for the first offence, increasing by £10 for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of £50 per offence.

Mike Hall had notified the Chairman and Secretary that Rule 14(n) in the 2006 Handbook should not have been included apart from the final sentence. This then lead to the problem that 14(a) was contradicted by 14(f). The Committee agreed that the R&C Committee should have the discretion in exceptional circumstances to permit deputy professionals for reasons other than those stated in 14(f).

Decisions made by the R&C Committee could be subject to appeal.

The Committee discussed the ramifications of a tournament being held in the West Indies during the summer.

Ground Reports: David Morris informed the Committee there would be some changes to the report cards submitted by umpires. Action would be taken against persistent offenders under Rules 5, 11 and 26. Clubs will be notified of the ground inspection dates taking place around Easter. Particular attention will be made to ground drying equipment and covers, which must be in a good state of repair.

It is strongly recommended that clubs consider the health and safety aspects, especially the operation of machinery and the spraying and storage of chemicals.

The importance of the Groundsmens’ meeting was stressed.

It was also suggested that clubs have a light in the scorebox to aid acknowledgement of umpires’ signals. 

Disciplinary Report: Tony Hayes explained and distributed sheets containing the Disciplinary Penalty Guidelines for 2006, and the action to be taken by clubs. Further copies will be available for the umpires / captains meeting.

Clubs will be fined as per Rule 14 if their professional is suspended to prevent then gaining financially after an offence has been committed.

Other Cricket Reports: The Chairman’s notes from a recent League Cricket Conference meeting had been E-mailed to clubs previously. Of particular note is the increased activity of the Inland Revenue.

Lyddon Trophy: The Chairman explained that he and Little Lever are looking to improve the format of the competition.

Date of the Next Meeting: Thursday 20^th April at FARNWORTH SOCIAL CIRCLE C.C.

Extracts from Rule 14;

(a)   Clubs must ensure they have a professional subject to the following rules…

(f) In the event of a registered professional being unable to play for his club either through accident, injury, sickness, being required to play at a higher standard or grade, a substitute professional must be engaged. (Note – the Committee have agreed the R&C Committee may give permission for deputies under other circumstances).

(n) Clubs playing without a professional will be fined 4% of the current minimum overseas professionals rate per match. (Note – the remainder of the Rule in the 2006 Handbook should be ignored).