THERE is a change of format to this season’s Jolly’s Drinks ECB Cornwall Premier League.

At last week’s League Annual Meeting, at Truro, the top-flight clubs voted in favour of a 50-overs a side, win/lose format. It replaces the 110-overs time games that were introduced with the creation of the Premier League in 2001.

Matches will start at 1pm throughout the season with a 20% restriction on bowler’s overs.

The 50/50 Cup competition remains at the start of the season, but the group winners will now go straight to the final.

Clubs also agreed a new tier system — the Premier stands alone with County Division 1 and Division 2 forming Tier 1; below that Tier 2 will comprise of Divisions 3 and 4; and Divisions 5 and 6 have been renamed Tier 3.

With the exception of the Premier, all tiers will all have a bowler overs restriction of 25%. Tier 1 games remain at 50-overs a side but with the earlier start time of 1pm throughout the season.

In a change Tier 2 will have reduced 45-overs games with 1.30pm starts, Tier 3 remains at 40-over games with 2pm starts.

A move to introduce three sections of ten team divisions in Division 5 was defeated, after a lively debate. Batting bonus points have reverted to a point at every 40 runs across Tiers 1, 2 and 3. Division 5 games, as well as Division 6, may now be mutually agreed to be rescheduled for Sundays.

Other measures to ‘Get the game on’ will see a relaxation of the registration, transfer and loan players rules.

In Cup Competitions pink balls will be trialled in the Hawkey, Vinter and Rosevear Cup semi-finals and finals. Administratively rule change proposals will in future require seconding by two clubs on submission. The threshold for passing of rules at the AGM has also been increased from 50% to 60% in favour.

Full details of the rules proposals can be viewed at www.cornwallcricket.co.uk.

The Newquay CC Chairman Dave Eggins was elected League vice-chairman, replacing Jon Lambert, who remains as Registration Secretary. Stuart Wilder (St Austell CC) and Darren Kirwan (St Blazey CC) were elected onto the League Management Committee. All other league officers and committee members were re-elected unopposed.

Officers 2016: President — C Rosevear; Chairman — V Hassell; Vice-Chairman — D Eggins; Hon Secretary — M Evans; Hon Treasurer — C Marsh; Asst. Secretary — K Goldsmith.

Also on the night, the President Clive Rosevear made the presentation of awards. The ‘Lenny Lobb Fair Play Award’ for Premier clubs, as marked by match umpires, was presented to Camborne CC for the third year running, while the new ‘Ron Fenton Fair Play Trophy’ for County Division 1 clubs was presented by former CACO officer Ron Fenton to Gorran CC.

The ‘Archie Smith Trophy’ for the outstanding young player went to Falmouth bowler Jordan Thomas, while Tom Dinnis of Werrington CC won the ‘Clive Osborne Trophy’ for the outstanding young eastern bowler.

Truro won both the ‘Bradley Trophy’ for the leading Premier League batting average and the ‘Littlejohns Trophy’ for the best Premier bowling average.

The Division 4 and below (West) ‘Sporting Trophy’ for the highest batting average was won by Ben Edwards of Camborne CC; and Ian Bishop, of Truro CC, won the ‘Beecher Williams Trophy’ for the lowest bowling average Division 4 and below (West).

Now that the meeting has taken place and presentations made, it brings an official end to the 2015 cricket season, paving way for the next.

With the changes to rules agreed, and formalities put in place, the 2016

Divisions have been confirmed by the League, and they are as follows:

Premier League — promoted: Helston; relegated: Camborne.

County Division 1 — promoted: Rosudgeon and Werrington II; relegated: Menheniot Looe and Launceston.

Divison 2 West — promoted: Goldsithney, Mount Ambrose and Mount Hawke; relegated: Crofty Holman and St Ives.

Divison 3 West — promoted: Penzance II, St Gluvias II and Perranporth; relegated: Barripper.

Divison 4 West — promoted: Perranarworthal II, Ludgvan II, Mount Ambrose II and Falmouth III; relegated: Stithians II and Gulval II.

Divison 5 West — promoted: Wendron II, Paul II, St Newlyn East and Mawnan; relegated: Crofty Holman II and St Gluvias III.

Division 6 West — re-admitted: Barripper II and Troon II.

Division 2 East — promoted Lanhydrock and Veryan; relegated: Boconnoc, Liskeard and Saltash.

Division 3 East — promoted Luckett II and St Austell III; relegated: Tintagel, Bugle and Roche II.

Division 4 East — promoted: St Erme II and St Minver II; relegated: Calstock (by choice to Div 6) and Duloe.

Division 5 East — promoted: Milton Abbot, Bude II and Ladock II; relegated: Tintagel II and South Petherwin II.

Division 6 East — re-admitted: Saltash II.