ANTHONY AXFORD BOLTON CRICKET LEAGUE
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD AT BRADSHAW C.C.
19th MAY 2008
Apologies: Astley Bridge C.C. and Tony Hayes.
Minutes of the April Meeting: Correspondence has been sent to the LCB and it is hoped a meeting can be arranged in the near future.
The Chairman is meeting Paul Rayment to discuss his Cricket Forum. Concern was expressed about some recent content.
Rod Sandiford gave a brief update regarding issues with United Utilities. The Secretary has written to the ECB, LCB, League Cricket Conference and the Bolton Council, but has yet to receive a response, although reference was made in the minutes of a LCC meeting previously emailed to clubs.
Correspondence: The Secretary requested that clubs ask their cricket correspondents to remember to phone David Magilton at the Bolton News on a Sunday morning, and submit their scorecards in the required format, including the initials of the batsmen. Peter Stafford said he was satisfied with the phoning through of results.
The Committee agreed that concessions for disabled spectators should be left to individual clubs.
The Secretary read a letter from Eagley C.C. regarding the transfer of Mike Ward. It was agreed the Bradshaw Committee should have time to prepare a response for Eagley.
Finance: The Treasurer reported balances of £2600 in the Current Account, £1530 in the Savings Account and £6125 in the Coaching Account. The bill for the Handbook has been paid.
Farnworth, Greenmount, Tonge and Westhoughton still owe their £100 coaching fee.
Two clubs are still to formalise their insurance arrangements.
Umpires: We now have two representatives from our Umpires’ Association on the LCB.
The Treasurer has lists of clubs who have not submitted Umpires’ Report Cards and Match Cards. Horwich 2nd, Kearsley and Westhoughton 1st teams have not submitted any Report Cards to date, other offenders include Bradshaw and Farnworth.
It is important the umpires are identified. Suggestions included umpires rather than clubs issuing the cards on the match day, or captains taking their names from the pre-match cards.
Umpires and Captains should sign and print their names in the scorebooks at the conclusion of the match.
Scorers need to have access to the run rate calculation booklet. Copies of the flow chart will be re-issued to clubs.
The Chairman stressed that Club Representatives have to take responsibility for League related administration at their clubs.
There have been 11 disciplinary reports so far this season. The Chairman apologised to the umpires on behalf of the League. It was felt that there was little merit in calling another Umpires/Captains meeting at this stage, as the actual team captains were often unable to attend in person. However, representatives were asked to remind team captains that they had responsibility for their players’ behaviour.
Juniors: Farnworth and Little Lever have withdrawn from the Under 15 competition. The Coaching Committee are to meet with the clubs.
Horwich withdrew from an Under 18s match.
Mr Hutchinson stressed that the non-playing of matches should be taken very seriously by the League.
Disciplinary Reports: Simon Thomson reported that one professional was fined £200 and had received a two match suspended ban. A Farnworth Social player was banned for one match for abuse of equipment, a Greenmount player for two matches for dissent, and Westhoughton and Horwich players for abuse of another player.
One player is to appeal.
The Guidelines in the Handbook will be adhered to and umpires are asked not to comment on the possible outcome of incidents they report.
John Barrow suggested that the minimum penalty should be reduced for minor offences, but Karen Knott said that abuse of equipment had become widespread in recent seasons and player were not taking any notice of warnings.
Professionals: Farnworth will not be signing B. Parchment; D. Smith will be missing a few matches for Westhoughton and Kearsley have signed R. Kelly.
Transfers: S. Arif (Tonge to Heaton), M. Ward (Bradshaw to Eagley).
Hamer and Birtwistle Cup Draws: 7pm Tuesday 27th May at Astley Bridge.
Any Other Business: Farnworth S.C. requested the leg side wide rule, which was defeated at the 2006 AGM, be proposed again.
Steve Bannister asked umpires to ensure that in close matches to ensure the scoreboard was correct towards the end of the match.
The Secretary confirmed that in 20/20 Lyddon Trophy matches there are no fielding circles and no restrictions on the bowlers’ run-ups, but overs have to be completed within the allotted time. It may be possible to bring the date of the final forward, but this will depend on our clubs’ progress in the Lancs KO.
All seven clubs progressed to the second round of the National KO, and the fixtures for the third round are:
Netherfield v Horwich (1st June),
Farnworth v Urmston,
Kearsley v Bowdon,
Farnworth S.C. v Porthill Park.
In the Lancs KO only Egerton were defeated in the first round.
A new type of cricket ball has been issued for the first round of the Hamer Cup. Winning teams will be given similar balls for the later rounds. The normal ball should be used for Birtwistle Cup matches.
Updated information relating to ‘Safehands’ has been emailed to clubs. The Junior Secretary will discuss this with clubs at the Junior Meeting on 22nd May.
Ground report cards have been issued to umpires. If clubs still have the cards issued at the April League meeting, there should be given to the umpires at the weekend.
Date of Next Meeting: 30th June.