ANTHONY AXFORD BOLTON CRICKET LEAGUE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING 29th JULY 2013
TONGE C.C.
Apologies: The Treasurer, E Smith, G Waterworth, Greenmount C.C. and Kearsley C.C.
Minutes of the June Meeting: The minutes had been circulated. They were approved as a correct record.
Matters Arising: The Committee have agreed to implement the 17’’ guide lines for wides for the remainder of the season. Further details will follow.
The Chairman has discussed inter league selection policies with Dave Tattersall, stressing the need for better communication. John Hutchinson said he was aware a junior player had been selected for the senior team again.
Alternative cricket balls have been used to a mixed reaction. Three more sets will be used in damper conditions.
The Chairman reported that last Thursday an informal meeting he had arranged was attended by a mix of representatives and players. The changes in other leagues, including the Bolton Association had been discussed, but the general consensus was that the Bolton League should stay at fourteen clubs, with the clubs to be as strong as possible. In the future, smaller groups would be established to look at specific topics including; finance, playing conditions, rules and junior cricket. There will be a move towards bringing the junior and senior committees closer together.
Mr Fallows suggested setting up an Executive Committee with the power to impose rule changes.
The Chairman and Secretary had met with Eagley C.C.
Correspondence: Clubs were reminded they must leave sufficient teas for the scorers.
The Secretary had emailed details of an LCB Business Essentials Course to clubs.
Finance: A statement had been emailed to committee members. Four clubs still owe money to the League and the Secretary will ask the Treasurer to send clubs a detailed breakdown.
The Treasurer explained in an email which was read to the Committee why he is only able to attend the occasional meeting, but generally members agreed the situation was acceptable.
There was a brief update from the Sponsorship Sub Committee.
The Committee agreed that as Eagley’s details had been omitted from the Handbook they are entitled to a full refund.
Umpires: Mrs Knott said a practical training session with video had been held at Bradshaw C.C.
The standard of scoring at some clubs is poor and courses will be arranged during the close season.
A trial is being given to a communications system between umpires and scorers.
Heaton were asked to discourage football at the top of the hill.
The submission of umpires’ marks has improved significantly.
Juniors: At the last meeting there was a wide ranging discussion about the future of junior cricket including a partial open-age third team.
The under 15 final will be held on August Bank Holiday Monday, and the Under 18 play off will take place on 30th August. Westhoughton and FSC will play their Jake Tatlock semi final on 2nd August.
The next meeting will be Thursday 22nd August.
Disciplinary Report: One Egerton second team player was banned for two matches with another two suspended until the end of the season. Two Horwich players received suspended bans and another received a warning.
Proposed Amendments to Rules: The Secretary proposed “A club may opt to play without professional, but may not sign any of the six starred players from the preceding season from each of the other Bolton League clubs.” It was accepted this was not unduly restrictive, and a waiver of rule could be applied. Other members of the Committee indicated they would be putting forward alternative proposals on the same subject.
He also proposed the following for the Hamer and Birtwistle Cups “The 50th over must commence within 3 hours 15 minutes of the start. Overs not bowled after this time will be deducted from the team’s allocation in their innings. In the second innings five runs will be deducted from the total of the side batting first for every over commenced after completion of the over in progress at 3 hours 15 minutes.” There had been several complaints about slow over rates this season, but the Secretary felt that an extra allowance should be made for power plays, without leading to a situation that the match may have to be completed on another occasion due to poor light. Comments ranged from thoughts that 3 hours 5 minutes as in league matches was sufficient to the feeling that time should remain unlimited.
R&C Report: Mrs Knott said that should Egerton, Kearsley and Little Lever miss more than one Under 15 match next season then their first team would be deducted one point. The same applies to Little Lever and Kearsley Under 13 teams.
Heaton have received a warning about their third team.
Mrs Knott explained that the R&C Committee felt Horwich should be permitted to engage deputy professionals for replacement professional Tom Poynton, but she would be contacting the club to place a possible time limit on this.
Horwich have been fined for playing without a professional.
The Committee were reminded that players cannot be registered for more than one club, and once a player has played for a club outside the Bolton League he must re-register.
In a second team match the run rate had been completely miss-calculated. Once the first ball of the second innings has been bowled, or the first ball bowled after an interruption the target on the scoreboard cannot be changed even if an error is noted, however the League would consider a protest from a club not involved in the game.
The Registration Secretary will be contacting clubs for their ‘starred’ first team players. The list will then be circulated.
Horwich will be asked to liaise with the Under 18 Secretary about forthcoming fixtures as they may be due to have points deducted from their second team for failing to fulfil fixtures.
Ground Report: There is one matter relating to Bradshaw C.C. The Chairman will follow this up while Mr Waterworth is indisposed.
Inter League: The Chairman congratulated the inter-league team on reaching the final against the North Lancs and Cumbria League at Egerton C.C. on 11th August. On the same day the Under 18s play the Bolton Association at Heaton C.C. and Astley Bridge are in the ECB t20 Area Finals at Netherfield C.C.
Junior and Senior Presentations: The Chairman will co-ordinate the arrangements for the senior presentation. The juniors are asked to have a date and venue in time for the next league meeting to avoid clashes with clubs’ presentations
Hamer Cup Final: The Chairman will be sending an invitation to our sponsor and life members.
Date of Next Meeting: 19th August.