Cup carry-on leads to rule change plea

No play was possible in six of the eight Tanner Cup ties and seven Moore Cup games last Sunday - which forced players and officials to race through tea-time traffic this week to reach their game venues by start time.

The Tanner Cup first-round matches at Heyside and Moorside got underway on Monday, while Glodwick v Droylsden, Austerlands v Saddleworth and Micklehurst v Greenfield didn’t start until Wednesday.

Because they were in no position to travel on an evening, new club South West Manchester forfeited their tie at Uppermill and received a fine.

It all added up to a messy opening to the league’s showpiece competition.

Friarmere captain Andy Walker says action must be taken to avoid games running into midweek.

“Surely in this day and age, we must consider changing the rules,” he said. “A lot of people work night shifts or, like me, work in Manchester and don’t leave until 5.30pm. It is a mad rush, and for some people impossible.

“What’s the lesser of two evils: turning up with seven or eight players a night, or having a bowl-out, super-over or whatever to decide the outcome if there is no play on the designated date?”

Clubs voted at last year’s annual meeting on a package of Tanner Cup rule change proposals.

These included a bowl-out if play is prevented by the weather, or a coin-toss if play isn’t possible.

Most clubs were in favour, but the majority was insufficient for the rule to be adopted.

Last season there was room in the fixture programme for reserve dates, since there were two fewer teams than this season.

Saddleworth League secretary Trevor Harrison said: “It is too late to change the rules for this season. But it is imperative that clubs and league come up with a different format that is acceptable and works for weather-affected cup games in future seasons.”