THE LWC Cornwall Cricket League have announced the draws for the respective cup competitions this summer with an exciting new addition for teams in Division Two.

The Post area teams will take part in the traditional Hawkey and Rosevear Cups, while for the first time ever, the Division Two T20 Cup will be contested as Cornwall Cricket’s LMC competitions committee chairman, Mark Mitchell, explains.

Mr Mitchell said: “The LWC Drinks Cornwall Cricket League has, through its development group, been looking at ways it can improve the breadth of competition opportunities available to its member clubs and players.

“Alongide this, in addition to taking two long-established west Cornwall competitions, the Andrew Cup and Mining League, under our wing, there was a feeling that another group of cricketers, those just below the top level, needed something of their own. Division Two has always been regarded as a ‘senior’ league but, particularly in the age of greater player movement, clubs in that division rarely see themselves as able to make headway in the main cup competitions, which are dominated by the Premier League and County One.

“Division Two, east and west, comprises 24 teams, and we are delighted that 16 of those have been immediately attracted to this new competition, which will be run in localised groups to begin with. Everyone plays three matches and the top two teams from each group will move on to a single knockout round, where we have opened up the draw, to give clubs a chance of some more exciting ‘east v west’ clashes.

“There are no obvious favourites, so we look forward to some great, truly competitive cricket. If we are successful, there is scope for some more ideas to be put in place for other divisions in the future.”

Bude and Launceston, will take part in Group A alongside Menheniot Looe and Boconnoc.

Launceston travel to Boconnoc in the first of their three matches while Bude are scheduled to welcome Menheniot Looe to Crooklets.

The winners of the group will take on the Group C runners-up in the quarter-finals with the runners-up travelling to the Group C champions.

Launceston Cricket Club’s cricket manager, Peter West, is excited by the new competition.

West said: “It’s a great opportunity for us as players as it’s the way the modern game is going. We’ll look to have a team full of experience and youth and we’ll look to go as far as we possibly can in it.”

In the Clive Rosevear Insurance Hawkey Cup, last-years finalists St Minver could meet Premier League Werrington in a rematch of last year’s tie, which saw the County One side prevail by nine wickets.

Both sides have a bye in the first round with Adam Hodgson’s charges facing the winners of Wadebridge v Launceston while St Minver travel to Callington or Menheniot Looe. Both fixtures are scheduled for Wednesday, May 17.

The other half of the draw sees two all County One sides square off in the first round as Roche host relegated Newquay and Gorran travel to promoted Lanhydrock.

Whoever negotiates that quarter will face Grampound Road or St Austell in the last four, with the final being played at St Austell on Wednesday, July 5.

A fortnight later the Hawkey Cup champions will take on the Vinter Cup winners at Truro Cricket Club, with the victors representing Cornwall in the South West Area Finals Day.

Having been promoted to Division Two East last summer, Bude will miss out on the opportunity to defend their Clive Rosevear Cup title as the competition is for teams in Division Three East and below.

Just three teams in the Post area have entered, with Division Four side St Minver seconds welcoming Werrington thirds and Division Four county champions Tintagel travelling to old rivals Wadebridge seconds.

Full information on all three tournaments can be seen online at www.cornwallcricket.co.uk