MINUTES OF THE 2009 AGM

HELD ON 23^RD FEBRUARY 2010 AT NAILSEA CC

Present:

Stewart Dewer (Chairman)

Robert Humphreys (Secretary)

John Waters (U11/U13 Secretary, Cup Finals, Trophies, Representative Games)

Backwell/Flax Bourton CC

Barrow Gurney CC

Blagdon CC

Brislington CC

Bristol CC

Cheddar CC

Claverham CC

Cleeve CC

Clevedon CC

Congresbury CC

Long Ashton CC

Midsomer Norton CC

Nailsea CC

Temple Cloud CC

Uphill Castle CC

Weston-super-Mare CC

Winford CC

Winscombe CC

Wrington CC

Apologies

Andrew Moulding

Mark Walker

1.             The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm after pre-meeting business had been concluded.  Attendances and apologies were taken. 

2.             The minutes of the previous meeting of 23^rd January 2009 were read and approved.

3.             The League Secretary/Treasurer delivered a report (copy attached). 

4.             The U13/U11 Secretary (for trophies, cup finals and some representative games) delivered a report (copy attached).

5.             The Treasurer delivered an income and expenditure statement as at 23^rd February 2010 which was explained, discussed and approved.  The recommendation of the Treasurer that subscription and fine levels be unchanged for the 2010 season was discussed and accepted.  

6.             With regard to representative games, John Waters reported that out of 7 fixtures only 3 had been played owing to rain.  The U17s lost to the Bristol & District League heavily at Portishead.  There had been a proposal from the Bristol & District League to be allowed to include representative players.  The U15s had lost to the Bristol & District League – a close encounter at Nailsea, Tom Blanchard 155*.  Both U13 matches were rained off but a training day was organised.  A number of clubs did not reply to the request for players.  The U11s won against the Bristol & District League at Lodway (John Waters).  Thanks were expressed to John Murray (Nailsea) and David Lloyd (Backwell) and Ian Morrell of Cleeve at U11 level. 

7.             A point arose from the U13/11 report in relation to wides.  At U11 level a number of managers treat these as a penalty of 2 runs with no extra ball, but this is not as per the rules.  It was confirmed that it is for managers to agree between themselves variations to the rules at any particular game (subject to safety) if they so wish. 

8.             It appeared that the splitting of the U11s competition into 2 sections was working well.  The more relaxed fixture schedule and the enlarged play-off section also worked well. 

9.             A proposal was made (Clevedon) that Rule 3 be amended to provide for the AGM to be held not later than 15^th February and this was accepted. 

10.         A proposal was made (Claverham) that the Rules be amended to allow for weather-cancelled games to be re-arranged.  This was discussed but it was felt that reverting to the historic system of leaving managers to re-arrange dates would re-introduce unclarity and suspicions of re-arrangements for maximising playing advantage.  The proposal was rejected. 

11.         A proposal was made (Cheddar) that the preliminary round in the Cup be on the basis of a random draw rather than pitting B sides against each other and this was passed. 

12.         There was a discussion of the basis of division-splitting at U11 level and it was determined that the format should be on a league basis with each of the 16 teams entering playing 12 games against opponents chosen randomly. 

13.         It was decided to leave the format for U13s and U15s on the same basis as last year and U17s’ division should be a straight league. 

14.         Election of Officers took place as follows:

President:                                                                    Brian Rose

Chairman:                                                                    Stewart Dewer

Secretary/Treasurer                                                     Robert Humphreys

U13/11 Secretary

(Cup Finals, Trophies, Representative Games):          John Waters

Results Officer                                                            Mark Walker 

15.         The following representative XI managers agreed to be appointed:

U11s:                 Roger Hooper (Claverham)

U13s:                 John Waters (Nailsea)

U15s:                 John Waters (Nailsea)

U17s:                 John Murray (Nailsea)

16.         No formal applications had been received to join the League. 

17.         Trophies and cups were brought to the meeting and shown to John Waters (responsible for trophies).

18.         Entries for the 2010 season had been handed to the League Secretary prior to the meeting. 

19.         Payment for fines in relation to the reporting of results, previously notified by the Results Officer to applicable clubs, took place. 

20.         There being no further business, the meeting closed at about 10.00pm. 

………………………                                                                        …………………

Chairman                                                                                             Date 2010

NORTH SOMERSET YOUTH CRICKET LEAGUE

The aim of the League shall be to promote, encourage and develop youth cricket.

http://nsycl.play-cricket.com

REPORT 2009

This was the League’s 45^th consecutive year of operation for clubs located in the North West part of Somerset, and indeed further afield.  19 clubs put at least one team in to the various sections and a total teams number of 64, although down slightly from the record last year, was very healthy.  Speaking of last year, the weather improved substantially on the disastrous 2008 season, enabling all 6 Cup and Plate finals to be decided outright. 

Participation at U17 level continues to be strong with 12 clubs fielding a side.  We are proud of our being one of the few local leagues to keep on running cricket at U17 level and pleased that Midsomer Norton and Temple Cloud could join us from out of area despite the travelling.  Nailsea narrowly topped the table pipping Midsomer Norton, thereby achieving the double as they had overcome Uphill Castle in a low-scoring final despite top-scoring Uphill No. 10 batsman M Bail almost getting there with 30*.  In the popular Plate competition, Midsomer Norton defeated Winscombe. 

The key feature at all age levels was that for the first year the rules had been changed to “play on the day”.  Thus, clubs took the points or lack of them (win, lose, tie or cancellation) with no capability of postponing the fixture to a more convenient date.  So the League’s long-standing approach of allowing clubs to postpone to try to get the game in later in the season became history.  Greater certainty and saving in managers’ time was the outcome but inevitably less cricket will have been played.  Everything about volunteer cricket is a compromise and we will wait to see clubs’ reaction to how things went at the next AGM. 

At levels below U17s, the participants were split into 2 relatively equal-sized divisions geographically.  For U11s, this was the first time.  All-play-all was history.  For them, 14 all-play-all games became 7 or 8 sectional games – easier to manage but less cricket.  So at U15, U13 and U11 levels, a second play-off phase was bolted on, in which the leaders of each first stage section carried their points forward and played the leaders of the other section to determine the overall champions.  This had 2 aims: to get more games in and to get the best playing the best, leaving behind the weaker brethren.  I believe that it will have been a success. 

Overall, batsmen took full advantage of the firmer wickets (dampened by a wet August) and a record number of centuries (11) was scored in these 20 overs a side matches.  Tom Blanchard (Blagdon) and Charlie Killick (Bristol) both hit 2 hundreds and Liam Lester (Nailsea) was the youngest centurion scoring 109* against Bristol.  It was only a few years ago that 20 over cricket was held in low esteem generally but these days, nationally and internationally, it has become the icing on the cake.

Blagdon comfortably won their section of the U15 league but in the play-off section Cheddar snatched the title from them, with Clevedon and Blagdon one point adrift.  In the Cup WSM easily overcame a below-par Claverham with Dan Lomax (WSM) claiming 3 wickets for 5 runs.  Congresbury made the most of the Plate final dismissing Bristol for 57, S Bullock, C Wemyss and A Withers taking 2 wickets apiece, to win by 7 wickets.  Nailsea won the U13 League, losing only one match all season, defeating close challengers Cheddar.  Cheddar went down again to a strong Bristol team in the U13 Cup final to qualify for the County finals.  In the Plate final, Clevedon went down to WSM by bowling a wide off the last ball.  Claverham won the North section of the U11 division with WSM claiming the South section.  The top 5 teams from each section played off and Claverham squeezed home with Blagdon and Cleeve tied in runners-up position.

The League continued its policy of playing representative matches against other leagues insofar as possible but of the 7 fixtures at all age levels 4 were rained off.  The 3 played were all against the Bristol & District League with the NSYCL U17s losing heavily with a depleted team in a match at Portishead, the U15s losing a high-scoring game at Nailsea (Blagdon’s Tom Blanchard hitting a brilliant 155*) and the U11s winning their game played at Lodway. 

As always, the League very much appreciates the sponsorship of Westcountry Ground Care of Axbridge and the voluntary attendance of umpires supplied by the Bristol & Western Counties Association.  Thanks are also due to those clubs who staged finals and to the legions of scorers, parents, groundsmen and others instrumental in making it all happen.

Once again, John Waters was responsible for the U13s and U11s juniors, Mark Walker ran the results website and Stewart Dewer supplied his sanity when the occasion demanded.  The endeavours and efficiency of all 3 were crucial. 

We continue to follow the success at county level of old boy Peter Trego (WSM) in the Indian Champions League and Hong Kong Sixes and congratulate Charlie Walker (Failand & Portbury) on his gaining a Somerset Academy contract for 2010.

Ever onward and upward! 

Robert Humphreys

Secretary

North Somerset Youth Cricket League

2^nd December 2009

MINUTES OF THE 2008 AGM

HELD ON 23^RD JANUARY 2009 AT NAILSEA CC 

Present:	Absent:
Stewart Dewer (Chairman)	Long Ashton CC
Robert Humphreys (Secretary)
John Waters (U11/U13 Secretary, Cup Finals, Trophies, Representative Games)
Mark Walker (Results Officer)
Backwell/Flax Bourton CC
Barrow Gurney CC
Blagdon CC
Brislington CC
Bristol CC
Cheddar CC
Claverham CC
Cleeve CC
Clevedon CC
Congresbury CC
Failand & Portbury CC
Midsomer Norton CC
Nailsea CC
Temple Cloud CC
Uphill Castle CC
Weston-super-Mare CC
Winford CC
Winscombe CC
Wrington CC

1.             The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.30pm after pre-meeting business had been concluded.   Attendances and apologies were taken.  

2.             The minutes of the previous meeting held 12^th March 2008 were read and approved.

3.             The League Secretary/Treasurer delivered a report (copy attached).

4.             The U13/U11 Secretary (with trophies, cup finals and some representative games) delivered a report (copy attached).

5.             The Results Officer delivered a report (copy attached). 

6.             The Treasurer delivered an income and expenditure statement to January 2009 which was explained, discussed and approved.   The recommendation of the Treasurer that subscription and fine levels be unchanged for the 2009 season was discussed and accepted. 

7.             With regard to representative games, John Waters reported only one U11 game against the Bristol & District League that had been played, all the others having been rained off.  It was lost by 66 runs.  In recent years, it was observed that these representative games had become more one-sided in favour of the Bristol & District League.  In previous years, the NSYCL was stronger but now some players are being nominated who do not appear to be up to the standard. Hopefully this could be looked at going forward so that managers nominate players who are genuinely at the level.  He expressed thanks to Ian Morrell and Rob Cave of Cleeve for trying to stage a U15s game but it was rained off; also to Geoff Waters of Nailsea who tried to get a U17s game played.

8.             Winscombe had proposed a change to Rule 10 for league games to the effect that re-arrangements of postponed games would no longer occur and that there would always be a result (with points ascribed) on the day listed in the handbook.  There were discussions.  For some present the proposal was welcomed as it would create certainty and eliminate scope for suspected requests for re-arrangements “when strength was down”.  For others, the key was to give the maximum opportunity to get games played, even if this involved the downsides of postponements.  On the vote taken, 11 were in support of the proposal for change with 6 against.  The proposal was therefore carried and it was left to the League Secretary to draft the applicable wording to reflect.  Postponement in cup games, however, is unaffected by the above.  

9.             Discussion occurred as regards the splitting or otherwise of sections within the age divisions and, after discussion and voting, it was determined that: The U17s will play in a single all-play-all division but each of the U11s, U13s and U15s sections will be split into 2 divisions, organised substantially geographically but such that at U13 level Cheddar and Winscombe would have both their A and B teams in the same section.  It was recognised that the effect of smaller sections within divisions, particularly when linked with the “result on the day” change to rule 10, would be that less cricket was available and it was left to the League Secretary to consider adding into the schedule in those divisions with split sections additional play-off or similar games to make up a reasonable number. 

10.         As regards dates, after discussion it was determined that the League Secretary would be asked to try to arrange fixtures for the U11s to start on 10^th May, subject to dovetailing difficulties with the U17s programme. 

11.         Election of Officers took place as follows:  

President	Brian Rose
Chairman	Stewart Dewer
Secretary/Treasurer	Robert Humphreys
U13/U11 Secretary (with Trophies and Cup Finals etc)	John Waters
Results Officer	Mark Walker

12.         The following representative team managers volunteered: U17s: John Murray (Nailsea), U15s: John Murray (Nailsea), U13s: David Lloyd (Backwell Flax Bourton) and U11s: John Waters with overall co-ordination being by John Waters.

13.         No formal applications have been received to join the League.

14.         Trophies and Cups were brought to meeting and shown to John Waters (responsible for trophies). 

15.         After discussion, John Waters was asked to purchase a plate for the new 15 Plate competition, so as to result in there being Plate trophies for Plate competitions at each of the levels U17, U15 and U13, such to be engraved beginning with the 2008 winner. 

16.         Entries for the 2009 season had been handed into the League Secretary prior to the meeting.

17.         The Results Officer collected in payment for fines in relation to the reporting of results, previously notified to applicable clubs.  

18.         Under any other business, Midsomer Norton pointed up and deprecated perceived increase in bad language and sledging during games.  There was a discussion and the meeting expressed its support to managers at all levels in seeking to eradicate or at least minimise this unfortunate tendency.

19.         In relation to Cup Finals, Uphill Castle raised a concern that, as hosts of the U17s Plate Final, they had received no notification that the sides had agreed to postpone the game.  The Uphill groundsman had gone ahead and prepared the ground but then nobody turned up to play.  John Waters (Finals organisers) explained that there had been some confusion between teams on the day and expressed his apologies to Uphill Castle, whose long-time support for Cup Competitions by offering their ground as host for the final was very much appreciated.

20.         There was some discussion regarding the scope of managers to agree different playing conditions on the day as between themselves (e.g. 8 ball overs) and it was confirmed that they are entitled to do so.  

21.         Andrew Moulding gave a presentation on behalf of the SCB.  He said that he was pleased to see that the NSYCL continued to run a thriving U17s section, it being experienced generally in cricket as a whole that fewer adults are playing the game whilst the number of juniors playing is increasing.

22.         He outlined the new indoor facilities at Withywood which had been opened and encouraged clubs to use them.  He also encouraged all clubs with Youth Section to seek to achieve CLUBMARK and distributed some “safe-hands” material.  Coaching courses, he outlined, were available from the SCB and umpiring courses at WSM.  The World Cup of womens cricket will be held at Taunton in 2009 which is a fine achievement. 

23.         The availability of groundsmen’s courses and the nature of CRICKET FORCE for the improvement of club facilities was outlined by him.  As regards trials for junior county representative teams, he explained that the processes are being and will be improved.  He explained that the grant from the sponsors of the U15 and U13 National Tournaments had been delayed coming through from the ECB but as soon as it was received it would be passed onto the NSYCL as regards their portion.

24.         Andrew Moulding outlined a new grant available for 2009 being the NatWest grant for the running of a summer school.  All clubs need to do is to run it at their ground and charge juniors say £5 for 3 days and the club will then receive the grant from the sponsors via the SCB.  This sounded to be a particularly interested opportunity for member clubs. 

25.         There being no further business, the meeting closed at about 10.00pm. 

……………………………                                        ………………………… 2010

Chairman                                                                     Date

NORTH SOMERSET YOUTH CRICKET LEAGUE

The aim of the League shall be to promote, encourage and develop youth cricket.

http://nsycl.play-cricket.com

REPORT 2008

In its 44^th consecutive year the number of clubs participating held its own at 20.  Another 2 more in 2009 would be enough for 2 full teams!  70 individual teams took part across the 4 age levels which was itself a record.  So many were they that for the first time the U11s had to be divided into Hildreth and Trego geographical sections and the only age level still run on an all-play-all basis was U17s.

Geographic sections have the upside of lightening the burden on hard-pressed managers, otherwise needing to pencil in a solid 4 months of weekly match dates.  But the downside (isn’t there always one?) is that smaller sections means fewer fixtures.  So, paradoxically, more enthusiasm, more participation and more teams leads to less cricket.  But without paid team managers, there is no other real way.

Equally paradoxically, the greater the well-intentioned regulation of youth cricket, the greater the demands for organisational, safety, coaching and competitive standards to be raised year on year, the fewer volunteers are willing to take on the responsibilities of running youth teams.  Long gone are the days of just turning up, managing a game of cricket for kids and going home.

The weather was a paradox too.  Isn’t it always?  May was a record-breaker: hot, dry and without cause for cancellations.  Whoever heard of a May when nothing was rained off?  Then the summer set in: day after day, week after week, month after month of rain.  Managers made extraordinary efforts to get matches in but often in vain.  The U15 league play-off final between Clevedon and Nailsea exemplified the challenge: 4 unsuccessful attempts rained off and ultimately so wet that even a bowl-out could not be held, with the U15 title shared.  Title-sharing was an unfortunate feature of 2008. 

At U17 level, though, WSM maintained their record in recent years of taking the division unbeaten.  Claverham (who have not won here since 1991) finished close runners up with fast-improving Uphill just behind.  WSM and Claverham reached the Cup final but here also even a bowl-out was too wet to stage.  Plate winners were Cleeve.

In the U15s, last year’s champions Failand & Portbury (in the Trescothick (North) section) were unable to enter a team through shortage of managers but Nailsea (2007 runners up) went one better this year to top the table undefeated.  Their nearest challengers were Bristol (formerly Optimists) and Congresbury (who last won in 1990).  In the Blackwell (South) section, Clevedon came out winners but the end of season inter-section play-off was abandoned and the title shared.  Clevedon took the Cup with a comfortable win over Cheddar Cavaliers, with Blagdon winning the Plate competition.  Cheddar Cavaliers took the Parsons (South) section while Cleeve Comets were Caddick (North) section winners.  August did for the play-off though.  Cheddar overwhelmed Clevedon in the Cup final and the Plate competition was won by Failand & Portbury over Uphill Castle.

WSM Wizards were again strong at U11s age and took the Trego (South) section unbeaten.  Claverham took maximum points from their 9 matches in the Hildreth (North) section but here again no outright division winner could emerge as August had taken to the boats.

The League once again enjoyed (and is very grateful for) excellent support from the Bristol & District Umpires Association (Peter Smithard) who provided umpires sometimes at very short notice and often again and again as fixtures were rearranged. 

In the one representative game (1 of 4) played, the NSYCL U11s lost to the Bristol & District League in a 30-over match at Twyford House but the volunteer League XI managers had done their best to maintain this valuable inter-league playing level for those just below county standard.

It was with great sadness that news was received of the sudden death of Matt Billing, eldest son of long-time Failand & Portbury manager Jane Billing, and the League joins with many who had played with and against Matt in youth teams to express their deepest sympathies to his family.  Events like this put everything into perspective. 

Administration of the League this year went exceptionally smoothly, thanks largely to the efforts of Mark Walker (Results Officer), John Waters (Junior Secretary) and Stewart Dewer (Chairman).  Once again the League’s sponsors Westcountry Ground Care of Axbridge kindly met the handbook printing costs and their ongoing support for this enterprise is very welcome.  Our President Brian Rose continued on board as well.

Finally, as always, the League depends on the volunteer efforts of umpires, scorers, parents, groundsmen and others to keep youth cricket afloat in this part of Somerset; each was a Noah of 2008. 

Robert Humphreys

Secretary

North Somerset Youth Cricket League

26^th November 2008

For AGM 23.1.09

SECRETARY’S REPORT (INTERNAL)

(SUPPLEMENTAL TO PUBLISHED REPORT

IN SOMERSET CRICKET BOARD HANDBOOK) 2008

          General

1.             My report in relation to external events is as supplied to and published by the Somerset Cricket Board in their annual Handbook (copy attached).  This part of the report deals purely with internal matters. 

2.             At the last AGM I again tendered my resignation and asked for volunteers to take over the position of League Secretary.  None was forthcoming.  Accordingly, I agreed to carry on in office but with continued reduced scope of duties.  The receipt, processing and publication of results was a function continued with the Results Officer Mark Walker. 

3.             John Waters (in addition to his duties as U13 and U11 Secretary) continued with the organisation of all Cup and Plate finals as well as inter-division play-offs at the various age levels.  This largely involves confirming grounds (as published in the Handbook), arranging umpires, encouraging teams to be present and to have with them appropriate trophies and arranging for trophies to be presented at the game.  John also liaises with the League’s sponsors Westcountry Ground Care in relation to their annual payment to cover the printing costs for the Handbook and liaises with the printers on site in relation to collection of and delivery to me of the Handbooks when printed.

4.             Sometimes finals are genuinely rained off but in all other circumstances my own preference has been to decline to agree to rearrangements proposed by one or other of the participants to suit their convenience. 

5.             The functions that I retained were:

(a)           organising and arranging the AGM,

(b)          generating and circulating fixtures,

(c)           preparing and supplying to printers and distributing copies to the clubs of the League Handbook,

(d)          dealing with questions about the rules and complaints during the season,

(e)           arranging and participating in appeals against my own decisions and those of the U13/U11 secretary at our respective levels,

(f)           and writing and arranging for publication of the League’s report in the Somerset Cricket Board Annual Handbook.

6.             No volunteer was prepared to take on the function of overall orchestrating the League’s representative fixtures with other leagues (insofar as available).  Certain individuals offered to organise certain specific matches at certain levels.

7.             Again, I invite a volunteer to take over from me the position of League Secretary for 2009 and ongoing.  This will be my last year.

2008 season

8.             Let me first thank Mark Walker and John Waters for their excellent work throughout the season carrying out their respective functions and also those individuals who were able to run such representative fixture games as they were able to put together.

Issues for me during the season

9.             Issues were put to me at various stages throughout the season and the outcomes of these would be routinely known to the clubs concerned and the other officers but by no means in all cases to all clubs.  It may be helpful, therefore, if I run through these various issues and their outcomes in the chronological order in which they arose:

10.         Fixtures were circulated by email on 25^th March 2008 (27^th March 2007 having been the date the previous years). 

11.         Requests from a number of clubs were made to swap venues or alter fixtures for mutual convenience as agreed with the other side during the window between circulation of the fixtures and the date of commitment to printing the Handbook. 

12.         The 2008 Handbook was circulated in electronic form on 14^th April 2008, including contact details of all managers.

13.         The text of the Handbook was posted on the League website on 1^st May 2008, including copies of minutes of AGMs going back a number of years. 

14.         Mark Walker set up and made available to all the results website.

15.         It was confirmed that managers’ integrity was relied on not to switch for advantage players between A and B teams and that intentionally there was no Rule wording addressing this. 

16.         Requests were made for the “extension” of the fixture timetable to put back the dates of play offs and cut off dates for qualification by particular clubs who had played insufficient games.  These requests were rejected as being unfair on clubs who had taken steps to fulfil their fixtures in time. 

17.         Our deepest sympathies were conveyed to the family of Matt Billing (Failand & Portbury) whose sudden death occurred in October 2008.

18.         Out of all the above points and issues, I would make the following observations:

19.         The League exists on the foundation of mutual goodwill and integrity of volunteer managers and youth organisers.  In the heat of battle, it is always worth standing back and reminding oneself that these competitions are not World War III.

20.         Fixture dates, including cut off dates for qualifications and for finals, are carefully calculated for the fixture lists at the beginning of the season and all clubs are entitled to rely upon those fixtures as being the fixtures.  Inevitably, some clubs will make arrangements to ensure that they can meet those dates whilst other clubs cannot or will not do so.  It is unfair on those clubs who have taken the fixture list at face value and made their arrangements on that basis to subsequently treat the fixture dates as being a moveable feast and a mere opening shot in an endless process of jockeying amongst clubs concerned for fixture dates to be moved.

21.         Genuine rain-off of fixtures (or unfitness of ground) properly generates a postponement but clubs need to be aware that their electing to rearrange some of their fixtures to suit their own convenience does not result in the competition milestone dates of general application being moved in response.

22.         It is always open to clubs, despite the prescriptions in the Rules, to agree between themselves before a game to modify those Rules e.g. by allowing one club or the other to play overage players.  However, in default of such prior notice and agreement, the League Rules prohibit overage players from playing.  The League does not take on the responsibility for condoning the playing of overage players without agreement, not least because of the safety concerns which would arise.

Robert Humphreys

League Secretary

NSYCL

MINUTES OF THE 2007 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD AT NAILSEA CC
ON WEDNESDAY 12th March 2008

Present:
Stewart Dewer (Chairman)
Robert Humphreys (Secretary)
John Waters (U11/U13 Secretary, Cup Finals, Trophies, Representative Games)
Mark Walker (Results Officer)
Backwell/Flax Bourton CC
Barrow Gurney CC
Blagdon CC
Brislington CC
Bristol CC
Cheddar CC
Claverham CC
Cleeve CC
Clevedon CC
Congresbury CC
Failand & Portbury CC
Midsomer Norton CC
Nailsea CC
Temple Cloud CC
Uphill Castle CC
Weston-super-Mare CC
Winford CC
Winscombe CC
Wrington CC

Absent:
Long Ashton CC

1. The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.45pm after pre-meeting business had been concluded. Attendances and apologies were taken.

2. The holding of the AGM outside the period permitted under the Rules was approved.

3. The minutes of the previous meeting held 27th February 2007 were read and approved.

4. The League Secretary/Treasurer delivered a report (copy attached).

5. The U13/U11 Secretary (with trophies, cup finals and some representative games) delivered a report (copy attached).

6. The Treasurer delivered an income and expenditure statement to March 2008 which was explained, discussed and approved. The recommendation of the Treasurer that subscription levels be changed for the 2008 season to a flat £10 per team entered was discussed and accepted.

7. Peter Holdaway (Barrow Gurney) as Representative Teams Officer reported that 3 representative games had been played on each occasion against the Bristol & District League. The U17s (a team managed by John Waters) had lost. The U15s had played at Chew Magna and won. The U13s had lost but the game was noteworthy for the League’s side having been captained by Sophie Luff, a 13 year old girl from WSM.

8. The Results Officer delivered results materials which were distributed to those present.

9. Matters arising from the Officers’ respective reports were discussed.

10. In relation to the organisation at U15 and U13 level into 2007, it appeared that some of the managers running the teams had been unclear as to the requirements for games to be played by the cut-off dates for the sectional play-off fixtures listed or had wrongly assumed that such cut-off dates and play-off fixtures would be moved back in view of poor weather. The League Secretary was asked in next year’s Handbook to reinforce the position that league points counting towards qualification for the play-offs cannot accrue after the cut-off date. Extra wording is to be inserted on pages 8 and 10 of the Handbook.

11. The League Secretary confirmed to the meeting that the Handbook each year contains all the regulations, rules and necessary materials needed for the season.

12. The League Secretary confirmed that the cut-off date for participation in play-offs, finals and the next round of cup competitions is always the day before the date of such play-off, final or next round.

13. Some discussion took place of a suggestion floated by Winscombe that the entire league and cup programme be changed to a play on the day/points on the day/no postponements or re-arrangements basis but the suggestion was not taken further in discussion at the meeting.

14. The ideal structure for the shortened fixture programme in leagues divided into two smaller sections was discussed and it was concluded that the ideal (insofar as possible) in structuring the fixtures is to have one clear free week after the end of the section fixtures to allow re-arrangements/postponements before the play-off week.

15. John Waters responded to a request for information from the floor by reporting that the complaint received from the ECB directing that NSYCL batsman be made to retire in U13 cup games as per national regulations (rejected by the League Secretary) had been in effect abandoned by the ECB following discussions between John Waters, Somerset Cricket Board and the ECB. The League’s status as a self-governing, independent body had been asserted.

16. After discussion, it was determined that the U17 league in 2008 should be played as a single division (not split) with 13 (in the event 14) participating teams.

17. After discussion, it was determined that the U15 league would be split into two broadly equal sections on substantially the same basis as in 2007 (that is to say broadly geographically and with A and B teams in different sections) except that both Cheddar teams would be in the same section.

18. After discussion, it was determined that the U13 division in 2008 should be split into two sections on substantially the same basis as in 2007, that is to say substantially geographically and with A and B teams in different sections save that the teams of each of Winscombe and Cheddar are to be in the same section.

19. After discussion, it was determined that the U11 league should be split into two sections substantially geographically with A and B teams in different sections with no exceptions.

20. There was a proposal for the addition to the schedules of a new U11 cup but after discussion the proposal was not accepted.

21. Certain rule changes had been proposed and it was determined that:

- A proposed amendment to Rule 5 providing for U17s to be changed to a 8 per side format was not accepted. [The difficulties in relation to numbers of players at Backwell Flax Bourton were discussed and recognised and the club entered its U17 side in the competition in the hope that other managers would make accommodation insofar as needed.]

- A proposal for an amendment in relation to Rule 7 to provide for (1) re-expression of the total numbers of overs per game and (2) a change in league games to 4 overs maximum per bowler was not accepted.

- Rule 8 was amended to include the word available in the first sentence… at the faster rate per available over…

- Rule 3 was amended to provide for the longstop date for the AGM to be 14th February [this was after discussion of alternative longstop dates].

22. Existing officers were re-elected being: President (Brian Rose), Chairman (Stewart Dewer), League Secretary/Treasurer (Robert Humphreys), U13/U11 Secretary (also trophies, cup finals and some representative games) (John Waters) and Results Officer (Mark Walker).

23. No volunteers were forthcoming to take on the position of overall Representative Games Co-ordinator to orchestrate the four representative fixtures which John Waters had arranged against Bristol & District League (one at each age level) for 2008. After extensive discussion, John Waters agreed to take the U13 and U11 matches. Blagdon agreed to try to find someone from within their club to take the U15 game but unless John Waters is notified by 31st March 2008 of the name of such a person who has so agreed then the fixture is to be cancelled. Rob Cave (Cleeve) agreed that Cleeve would take the U17s game.

24. A joining application not being considered necessary from Temple Cloud who had been a member in 2006 but had not entered a team in 2007, no new applications to join the League were considered.

25. Cups and trophies were brought to the meeting, discussed and redistributed with John Waters being responsible for trophies.

26. A proposal was put that Rule 5 be amended to provide that the age-eligibility for girls be increased to 2 years after the equivalent eligibility date for boys in line with what is said to be the ECB’s current approach. It was left to the League Secretary to draft appropriate wording. The wording of the Rule change to be made is:

…Players must be under the relevant age at 1st September of the previous (in the case of girls the following) year…

27. There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.30pm.

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Chairman Date