KEIGHLEY’S third team have been granted permission to continue playing home matches on Sunday next season in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League.

However, this is only on the proviso that they seek a permanent Saturday alternative for the 2024 season and that, if possible, they play as many home matches at other grounds on Saturdays next year.

A proposed rule change that all league matches be played on Saturdays will be voted on at the league’s annual meeting at Cross Hills Social Club on Monday, December 12.

However, clubs now only face one Sunday league match a season compared with two in 2022 as Oakworth have joined the Halifax League.

Former league secretary Peter Foster said at the league’s rules revision meeting at Sutton Cricket Club that he did not want to kick a team out (Keighley Thirds) because they could not find a home venue that was available on Saturdays.

However, he emphasised that Keighley must make every effort to find a home venue beyond 2023 that is available on Saturdays.

Keighley committee member Paul Barker said: “Hopefully, from the body language that I gathered (at the meeting), there is not a massive appetite to remove us and clubs will only have to play us once on a Sunday, and it is at Keighley..

“Also RZM, who are a very good team, use Keighley on Sundays as well and we want to give them as many games at Keighley as possible. We are seeking alternative Saturday venues.”

Another proposed rule change was that a club that remove its first and second teams from the league must also remove their third team.

With Oakworth removing all three of their teams, this rule, if brought in, would only affect Bingley Congs.

However, Bill Marshall, the league’s Play Cricket and Media Officer, said: “Congs’ third team want to remain in the league as they want to play Saturday cricket (they could have joined the Aire-Wharfe League like their first and second teams but that would have meant them playing on a Sunday) and we are not in a position as a league to kick out a team that wants to remain with us.”

In other news, ENCO Halifax League secretary Tim Helliwell has warned clubs that there will be bigger consequences next season both over fielding ineligible players and disciplinary issues (full story on Thursday).