Denholme matches prompt potential Craven League rule change

Currently no bonus points are available if a game is rained off as it is felt that the side bowling first will have an unfair advantage on a wet-weather day, given it is realistically easier to gain a bonus point by claiming two wickets than by scoring 100 runs.

However, in a timed match where 20 overs have to be bowled, a proposed rule change (which was adopted by the league executive committee in the two games that it occurred in 2024, both involving Denholme) is that bonus points be awarded in this instance but not in other games that are abandoned.

An alternative proposal is that at least half of the overs in the second innings must be bowled for bonus points to be allocated.

Another rule change proposal from the league’s executive committee is that Craven League clubs whose grounds are shared by clubs outside the league can be punished by the loss of league points if they cannot fulfil a fixture on their ‘home’ ground.

If the clash is not known until after the Craven League fixtures have been published that club can apply to the league’s executive committee to re-arrange the match on another ground or date.

If the away team travels and the home club are not aware beforehand that their ground is not available (as happened twice last season) then the match can only be re-arranged by mutual agreement between the clubs.

A proposal to increase the umpires’ fees to £80 (split equally if there are two umpires or a straight £80 if there is only one) has also been submitted, while the same proposal will allow the officials in white coats to receive match fees for cup finals as well as a memento.

Gargrave pose after winning the 2024 Wynn Cup, the Craven League's premier knockout competition. (Image: UGC.)

Loan players could be considered to be a first XI player (and therefore not be allowed to be loaned) if they have played three matches for their first XI, whereas the current rule is only one match.

Among the proposals from clubs, in a bid to improve discipline, is that if a club receives two Level One disciplinary outcomes during the same season then they will be warned that if any future Level One offences occur that season then they will be docked 20 league points for each offence.

Other club proposals are that no players can be loaned for the final two matches of the season (thereby not potentially affecting promotion or relegation issues) and that clubs be docked 20 league points per concession if they concede more than two matches a season.

More suggestions from clubs are that a side who do not provide an umpire in the Third and Fourth Division should have to provide a playing member to officiate at square leg (thereby fielding with only 10 players) and that square-leg umpires should not be juniors.

Others are that matches involving ineligible players should have individual performances deleted (for both sides), overs in all innings be reduced to a maximum of 40 (it is currently 45 in the top three divisions), that all matches in September start at 12.30pm (instead of 1pm) and that clubs will not need to seek demotion for players until they have played nine scheduled league matches in a season.

Lastly there is a club proposal that all matches that are abandoned without play each team should receive 10 points (it is currently five points per club).

All these proposals will be voted on electronically by the clubs and league executive committee members, with the results being announced at the league’s annual meeting on Monday, December 9 at Sutton CC (7.30pm).

Meanwhile, a raffle at the league dinner, plus donations and money raised via the Manorlands Plate, has raised £920 for the league’s official charity, Manorlands Hospice at Oxenhope.

The Dales Council League also had a raffle at their recent league dinner at Weetwood Hall, which raised £446 to be split equally between Manorlands Hospice and Cancer Research.