Umpires in the Airedale & Wharfedale League could be set for a hefty pay rise.

The officials are currently paid £27.50 per game but that will rise to £32.50 if a rule amendment, proposed by the league’s management committee, is passed at the annual meeting next month at Otley Rugby Union Club.

League secretary Dave Alred said: “The ECB (Eng-land and Wales Cricket Board’s) recommendation is £35 per match and travelling expenses of 40p per mile but our umpires have not had a pay rise in three years and we want to put a cap on travelling expenses of £25, even though some of the umpires have to travel a long way.

“The cap will make things better for the clubs.”

The proposal for payment to umpires arriving at the ground and there being no play is £16.25 instead of the current £13.75.

The management committee have also proposed, which Steeton seconded, that start times be put back from 1pm to 1.30pm (1pm starts for the last four games) but Thackley have proposed that third-team matches start half an hour earlier at 2pm.

Teas are a knotty issue in many leagues – especially where home clubs have no bar and it is a major source of income.

New Rover have proposed, seconded by Adel, that the visiting team shall order and pay for a minimum of eight players’ teas.

The Bradford League already have a bonus points system for batting and bowling, a maximum of 15 overs per bowler per innings and leg-side wides in their premier cup competition.

All these are proposals for the Aire-Wharfe League’s annual meeting, with the Bradford League being convinced that the introduction of bonus points and leg-side wides have not only brought more positive cricket but also made matches more interesting.

Horsforth Hall Park and Alwoodley were both re-elected after finishing in the bottom two places in Division Three.

Hall Park received 33 votes and Alwoodley 31.