IT HAS been announced that LWC Drinks are ending their sponsorship of the Cornwall Cricket League, with immediate effect, writes Michael Weeks.

It ends a 24-year association, for which the League are most grateful. Based at Pool, Redruth as ‘Jolly’s Drinks’ they sponsored the Sunday Cup in 1995 for three years before taking over the main sponsorship of the league in 1998. Though taken over by LWC Drinks in recent years, brothers Nigel and David Jolly were both keen to maintain links with local cricket.

At the recent League AGM, held at County Hall, Truro, there were only a few changes to the rules for the forthcoming season. The loan player rules will now see a loanee only able to play for the lowest team in a club and such requests should be made before the visiting team travels.

In the Premier League and County Division One, which affects Werrington’s firsts and seconds, Callington and Launceston, a proposal that no transfers will be permitted after April 1, rather than the first day of the season, was passed by 18 votes to four.  A separate proposal to bring forward the date to January 1 annually was narrowly defeated. With the vote tied at 11-11, the April 1 date remains.

It was also agreed by 17-5 that matches in County Division One will start thirty minutes earlier at 12.30pm after August 14. Also in those divisions, each innings must be completed within a total time of three hours and 10 minutes. Wickets taken, drinks intervals and other minor stoppages, such as the adjustment of sight-screens, will not be taken into account. However, the umpires may allow additional time to the fielding side in respect of circumstances beyond their control, such as injury, lost ball or time-wasting by the batting side.

In Division Two and Division Three, a proposal to reduce the maximum overs per bowler from 25% to 20% was narrowly defeated by 24 votes to 22. The introduction of a fielding circle in both those divisions was also defeated in a close vote by 24-23. However, Division Two clubs, which include Post area clubs Bude, Luckett and St Minver, did narrowly vote in the adoption of fielding circles 12-11 in their division only.

There was one change to the league officers with Mark Mitchell taking over as league secretary, a post he held previously in 1990 and 1991. Keith Goldsmith, on retiring from the position, was awarded ‘Life Membership’ of the league, having served in officer roles since 1997.

All other officers were re-elected unopposed for 2019: President — Clive Rosevear Chairman — Andrew Kent; Vice-chairman — Dave Eggins; Hon Secretary — Mark Mitchell; Hon Treasurer — Chris Marsh; Operations and Media Officer and Premier/ County One Results Secretary — Michael Weeks; Registration Secretary and East Results Secretary — Jon Lambert; West Results Secretary — Mike Kent.

The league fixtures for 2019 have been released.

See next week’s Post to find out who your club have got on the key dates throughout the season.