Apperley Bridge, who have just completed a successful first season in the Dales Council League, have been put on another year’s probation by them.

The League’s annual meeting at Pudsey Congs heard that the attitude of some of the former Bradford Central League club’s players, who had behaved in an unsportsmanlike manner, had caused concerns.

There were also issues about the availability of the club’s ground in 2011 – and further worries regarding 2012.

There was no denying Apperley Bridge’s talent as a team, however – they won Division B, the Pool Paper Mills Cup for first teams and the twenty20 competition – with one club representative feeling that not getting enough of a challenge on the pitch had possibly caused some of the problems.

However, Thornbury, who also joined from the Bradford Central League in 2010, were admitted as full members, as were Savile Stars.

Possible new teams for 2012 were Lightcliffe, who would use Norwood Green as their base, and Chandan.

Wibsey Park Chapel, who finished bottom of Division D, were re-elected.

* Dales Council League president Geoff Cope has asked the league to act over slow over rates in their cup finals.

The former Yorkshire and England off-spinner said at the League’s annual meeting: “I know I can’t put proposed rule changes forward but the league’s cup finals have been starting at 1.30pm and some sides are taking up to four hours to bowl 40 overs.

“I have been thinking about booking in for bed and breakfast, the delays have been so horrendous.

“All this is putting the umpires under pressure. Taking up to four hours is ridiculous, with matches finishing at 8pm plus or 9pm plus.

“If the meeting agrees (which they did), maybe the league’s executive committee could look at the rules for cup finals – maybe a limit of three-and-a-half hours to bowl the overs, or if a side only bowls 35 overs in that time then the batting side gets the extra five overs.”