Sunday umpire shortage

THE Pennine Cricket League is facing a chronic shortage of umpires on Sunday, June 18.

Umpires secretary Stephen Bryan told club delegates he was "struggling to fill" 15 vacancies in second XI fixtures and that "one or two" games may have no qualified officials at all.

FINES are mounting up for late or missing captains' reports, which should be submitted after each first and second team fixture. The sum currently stands at £540.

LITTLEBOROUGH'S second XI were expelled from the Burton Cup after they were found to have fielded four ineligible players in their first-round tie against Glodwick on Saturday, May 27.

RE-INSTATED

Glodwick were re-instated - they face Rochdale - with Boro placed in the Tanner Cup, in which they entertain Hollinwood.

LEAGUE chairman Nigel Tench asked delegates to go back to their clubs to consider whether an end-of-season presentation evening should go ahead.

With some clubs heading to the Lancashire or Greater Manchester Cricket leagues next season, the PCL executive committee fears that the awards night would be poorly attended.

It is set to be staged at the Oldham Events Centre in October.

THE next league meeting is on Tuesday July 4, at Crompton Cricket Club.