CRAVEN Cricket league officials were holding a special Executive Meeting at Oakworth CC last night to consider how to cope with the foot and mouth crisis, (writes Tony Simpson).

A new season, with new clubs and a new structure, is due to start on April 21, but already two clubs - Haworth West End and Airedale - have been effectively shut down because access is through a farmer's field.

As a result, neither club has been able to do any work on the ground and the possibility of playing is out of the question at this stage.

While other clubs do not have problems getting into their facilities, some are bound to be affected by the fact that they are surrounded by agricultural land. In some instances, cricket balls being retrieved from adjacent fields is a regular feature of the Saturday afternoon scene, but with the threat of infection being transferred in either direction, that simple element of the game will be outlawed in many cases.

"We have written to all our clubs asking for clarification as to how they all stand," says League Secretary, Ann Bailey: "I'm sure most of them will have consulted with farmers who have adjoining land and will know just how the foot and mouth situation will affect them.

"We have written to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to obtain their view and they confirm what we thought was the case - that if access is available, then the only issue surrounds balls being hit into surrounding fields.

"With some changes in the league format almost certain to come about at the end of the coming season, it is vital that we let clubs know in advance what they are playing for.

"We are keen to play as much cricket as possible and to have some form of championship, but until we know exactly which clubs can do what, it is impossible to make an informed judgement."

With so much uncertainty around, the league's two Cup competitions, scheduled to start in May, are bound to be at risk, but draws were made before the crisis arose. Pairings are:

Wynn Cup (May 13) - Glusburn v Sutton, Thornton v Barrowford, Keighley TC v Ingrow, Oakworth v Jimmy Nelsons, Pendle Forest v Airedale, Haworth WE v Chatburn, Cononley v Carleton, Embsay v Barnoldswick, Skipton CI v Denholme, Gargrave v Foulridge, Haworth v Ingrow St John's, Long Lee v Cullingworth, Cowling v Bradley.

Cowling Cup (May 20) - Haworth WE v Embsay, Gargrave v Skipton CI, Pendle Forest II v Pendle Forest III, Long Lee v Chatburn, Cullingworth v Bradley, Denholme v Sutton, Airedale v Cononley, Thornton v Cowling, Oakworth v Haworth, Carleton v Glusburn, Barrowford v Ingrow St John's, Keighley TC v Foulridge, Ingrow bye.