THE J P Mewies Craven & District Cricket League will embrace five divisions next season after six new teams were accepted into membership recently by a vote of existing clubs.

All six newcomers are from the Bradford Central League as the flight from that competition continues, with Crossflatts, Wilsden, Bingley Congs, all one-time members of the West Bradford League, being joined by Sandy Lane and Haworth Road.

Joining them are another ex-West Bradford club, Riddlesden, who were expelled from the Craven League for misbehaviour a few years ago, but, with new officers at the helm, have now been re-admitted.

The movement in a westerly direction of Bradford Central League clubs maintains an accelerating trend in recent seasons.

Denholme and Ingrow were the most recent teams to turn to the Craven League for sanctuary after what many clubs appear to feel are declining standards in the Bradford Central League.

The start of the most recent exodus was launched by an application from Oxenhope, who subsequently decided to join the Halifax League, a move which has been replicated by Denholme Clough.

"It will involve some additional travelling, especially for our Lancashire clubs, but the vote was strongly in favour of expansion," says Fixture Secretary, Trevor Coe.

"Not all the new sides are from the same section of the Bradford Central League, so we have some sorting out to do as to who plays where, but we will move to five divisions, with Division Three involving first and second teams."