ANTHONY AXFORD BOLTON CRICKET LEAGUE
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING
TONGE C.C.
25th JUNE 2012
Apologies: John Hutchinson, Eric Smith, Astley Bridge and Little Lever.
Minutes of the May Meeting: After some discussion it was agreed the following extract from an email from Frank Hinks be added to the minutes, “It was expressed from the floor that the Disciplinary Committee had to be supported and were not there to be criticised by the Chairman.”
The minutes were then approved as a correct record.
Matters Arising: The Chairman accepted that he should not have spoken on behalf of Heaton C.C.
Due to ground use, Walkden are unable to stage either the Hamer Cup final or the Inter League final. It was agreed that once clubs know if their ground will be available they should apply to the Secretary to stage these matches. A decision on the Hamer Cup final will have to be made before the next League Meeting. The Axford Trophy match against the Bolton Association will be played at Greenmount on Bank Holiday Monday. A suggestion from the Association that they be permitted to strengthen their team with overseas players or UK based professional only received support from the Bolton League Secretary.
A decision will be made at a later meeting if the Hamer Cup rota will continue in its present form.
Finance: The Committee agreed by 6 votes to 5 that any money that was owed by clubs had to be paid by 30th July or 5 points would be deducted from the club’s first team. Clubs must contact the Treasurer if they dispute any of the amounts. A financial statement will be emailed to clubs.
It was agreed the Sponsorship Sub Committee should hold a meeting .
Juniors: The next meeting is 28th June.
The second round of the Jake Tatlock Trophy will be played on 22nd July, with the semis on the date scheduled for the final.
Queries about junior cricket should be directed to the Junior Secretary, not a variety of League Officials.
Fixtures From 9th and 16th June: As all clubs were not in agreement, these will not be replayed.
The Chairman congratulated clubs who have been able to get matches played during a very wet season.
Hamer and Birtwistle Cup Draws: These will be made at Bradshaw C.C. on Monday 2nd July at 7.45pm.
Umpires: Mrs Knott reported there has been positive feedback from captains.
Other venues have been considered, but Bolton School has been booked for the Indoor KO on 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th January 2013.
There is concern that some teams are not making sufficient effort to prepare for a match when it is wet.
Teams must turn up for matches, exchange match cards, list their players in the scorebook and have the scorebook signed by the umpire(s), even when there is little or no prospect of play.
It was agreed that when the team batting second have reduced overs due to a slow over rate in the first innings (Rule 26g), the time allotted to bowl the overs in the second innings will be reduced by three and a half minutes per over.
Scorers interested in a Scorers’ Initiative Course in the close season should contact Karen.
A list of non submissions of umpires’ reports has been emailed to clubs. Mr Hinks apologised on behalf of Walkden C.C.
David Morris suggested umpires may wish to make comments and reports on matches in which they are standing.
It was felt an amendment to rule may be proposed to prevent Hamer and Birtwistle Cup matches from being restarted, even if it’s by mutual agreement.
Sponsor’s Money: A Sub Committee under the Chairmanship of Graham Waterworth had been set up. Various suggestions were discussed including roll on / off covers and sightscreens but it was felt of most benefit to clubs would be a professional soil sample analysis and report at a cost of around £150 per club.
It was felt that minimum criteria for clubs and grounds should be established and bulk purchase of ground consumables considered. The Chairman suggested bulk purchase could be extended to alcohol and other re-sale items.
The Treasurer said that the League should keep some of the Sponsor’s money in reserve in case of an emergency at a member club.
Handbooks: Egerton queried why League Handbooks were no longer being paid for by the League as had been custom and practice. The Secretary proposed that for 2012 Handbooks were paid for by the League but clubs paid their ECB / LCB affiliation fees to leave some funds available for other projects. This was agreed by the Committee.
The Secretary also recommended that before next season the cost of the Handbooks was reviewed, along with the numbers each club must take. Mr Venn remarked that a lot of the records could be made available electronically, rather than in book form. Mr Hinks said he was a third of the way through tidying up the wording of the rules.
R&C Report: Transfers and registrations have been emailed previously.
Farnworth S.C. have not fielded an Under 11 team this season and the R&C Committee administered the agreed penalties. On appeal it was agreed that if FSC do not field an U11 team in 2013, their first team will be deducted one point for each offence after the second.
Presentations: David Morris and Mike Buckley will take responsibility for the organisation of the senior and junior presentations respectively. Dates for the presentations are required by clubs as soon as practicable so they can arrange their own events.
Disciplinary Reports: Mr Bannister reported a Heaton first team player had been banned for one match with a further eight matches suspended for the remainder of 2012 season. A Horwich second team player has been banned for two matches with a further match suspended for the remainder of the 2012 season. A Little Lever player had been banned for four matches by his club for an unusual incident in a second team match which also came to the attention of the ECB.
Inter League Report: The senior team will play the Lancashire County League at Bradshaw on 8th July. The U18 team face the Saddleworth League at Uppermill and on 12th August will travel to Denton West. A squad has been announced for the 2nd team Xl who play the CLL at Radcliffe.
Date of Next Meeting: 30th July at Tonge C.C.