Veterans denied overtime by Dales Council League vote

A proposal by Farnley Hill, seconded by Pudsey St Lawrence, was brought to the annual meeting at Pudsey Congs to help the league’s side for the Grey Fox Trophy, a competition for over-50 players.

It read: “Any player registered with a club in the Dales Council Cricket League who is over 50 years of age on the date of a match may play in a league, but not a cup, match for any other club in the league when not selected for his own club.

“This rule will not apply to the last three games of a season of a guest club.” However, it was voted out 8-7.

Shipley Providence, seconded by Baildon, proposed that any team arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time should forfeit the toss.

The vote there was tied 12-12, with league chairman Steve Raistrick’s casting vote going against the rule change.

But Congs’ idea, seconded by Undercliffe, that if the side batting first score less than 75 then the side batting second will receive full batting bonus points if they pass that total with less than two wickets down was carried 16-5.

Rodley’s proposal, seconded by Hawksworth, that in an abandoned match each team would receive five points (instead of four) went through 20-1.

A full result can now be achieved if both sides only bat 25 overs (down from 30) (carried 13-2), while clubs can now be fined £10 if umpires give their teas marks of five or less out of ten on three occasions during the season. Each subsequent low mark would then also carry a £10 fine (carried 19-5).

A batsman who needs a runner in the first innings of a match cannot now bowl or keep wicket in the second innings (carried 18-2).

Also, players should have predominantly white footwear while batting and fielding (carried 18-1) and must only wear white long-sleeved clothing under a short-sleeved shirt (carried 18-1).

All on-field communication must be in English (carried 19-5), while a move to introduce leg-side wides to the Pool Paper Mills Cup (first teams) failed 15-7.