Moves to expand CLL

CRICKET:

THE Lake Garage CLL could be set for a facelift even more radical than last season’s two-division format.

Following last summer’s shake-up — which had a mixed reaction — a new proposal could see the league advertising for more clubs to join.

The driving force is Unsworth CC, who finished third in the league’s second Championship tier. The side is proposing retention of the two-tier system, expanded to 12 teams per division rather than eight.

Successful applicants would play in the second tier and be eligible for promotion.

Unsworth’s proposal is the most intriguing item on the agenda at tomorrow’s annual meeting at Middleton CC - and there is every chance the move will be viewed positively. If accepted, new teams could be playing in the league by 2015.

Among other proposals tomorrow are two match-day changes from Norden. The Woodhouse Lane club want games to start at 1pm instead of the current 1.30pm, and proposes that no bowler — including professionals — be allowed to send more than 15 overs an innings.




FORMER Royton CC player Nigel Tench received the CLL’s President’s Trophy at the league’s annual dinner.

Tench, who started off as a player at Middleton before moving to the Paddock, has been an umpire at junior and senior level since hanging up his cricketing boots.

Currently chairman of the CLL’s Umpires Association, Tench has been on the senior umpires’ list since 1996.

He was judged the outstanding candidate for the prestigious award by league president Tom Williams.