Bob Welton, right, presenting the division one champioship pennant to Scothern.Delivering his 17th annual report to the Lincolnshire County Cricket League, chairman Bob Welton thanked Grimsby Town and Alkborough for hosting the cup finals and hoped they would do so again in 2012.
Addressing club delegates at the AGM in Market Rasen, he congratulated league champions Haxey on gaining promotion to the Lincs ECB Premier and welcomed Nettleham back into the premier division after some years in the ECB competition.
With the league’s half-century anniversary to be reached in 2013, he invited clubs to bring forward suggestions to celebrate the milestone “which should not go unnoticed.”
The chairman said the Lincolnshire League, with its five divisions, was a “tremendous competition.”
The league’s first season using Play Cricket to record match results and handle registrations had gone very well and he thanked those involved with its smooth introduction.
He presented pennants to the divisional champions, who will receive their trophies at the annual dinner next March.
As their ground did not gain the marks necessary for premier division status, Scothern were not promoted.
Scothern put their case for promotion to the meeting, saying an oversight - an “honest mistake” – had meant a piece of ground equipment not being available for inspection, which cost them marks.
But the league chairman said the ground inspectors could only report on what they saw on the day of their visit.
He pointed out that even with the maximum number of marks for the piece of equipment in question, Scothern’s total would have been insufficient to meet the criteria for the premier.
That meant promotion for South Kelsey – as the third-placed side.
The AGM heard it was not the first time such a scenario had operated.
Speaking after the AGM, South Kelsey secretary Mike Owen told Lincs Cricket Latest: "We started the season poorly, losing the first few games but as the season progressed we got stronger and the arrival of our Overseas Player, Chandi Wathukarage, after visa delays, for his fourth year with the club, gave some strength to our batting line-up.
“The second part of the season saw a terrific run of eight wins out of the last 11 games to finish a few points behind Broughton in second place.
"South Kelsey are by tradition a ‘yo-yo’ club between the premier and first division.
“We will find it a hard division, as both Appleby-Frodingham and Horncastle did the last two years.
“I am confident we will battle hard and together with the new players who joined us last year, and the long-term experienced base we have in the club, we will be competitive."
Mike is asking interested players wishing to sample “some of the best teas in the league” and to perform on a home ground “within an area of outstanding beauty” to please get in touch with him.
Kelsey will have Saturday sides in the premier and division three. His number is 07775906999.
At the start of the AGM, delegates and league officials observed one minute’s silence in memory of Cleethorpes stalwart Roy Oslear, who died recently.
The league format for 2012 will be as follows:
PREMIER
Alford
Alkborough
Barton Town
Broughton
Caistor Town
Cherry Willingham
Cleethorpes 2nds
Messingham
Nettleham
Scunthorpe Town
South Kelsey
DIVISION ONE
Appleby-Frodingham 2nds
Bracebridge Heath 2nds
Cleethorpes 3rds
Holton le Clay
Horncastle
Hykeham
Louth 2nds
Market Rasen
Outcasts
Scothern
DIVISION TWO
Alkborough 2nds
Caistor Town 2nds
Grimsby Town 2nds
Hartsholme 2nds
Keelby
Messingham 2nds
Nettleham 2nds
Owmby
Scunthorpe Town 2nds
Washingborough
DIVISION THREE
Alford 2nds
Barton Town 2nds
Broughton 2nds
Cherry Willingham 2nds
Cleethorpes 4ths
Haxey 2nds
Hibaldstow
Outcasts 2nds
South Kelsey 2nds
Stamford Homes
DIVISION FOUR
Caistor Town 3rds
Holton le Clay 2nds
Hykeham 2nds
Immingham Blossom Way
Keelby 2nds
Market Rasen 2nds
Morton
Old Lincolnians
Scothern 2nds (newly elected)
Scunthorpe Town 3rds
READ MORE NEWS FROM THE AGM THROUGH THIS LINK
www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk
Market Rasen receiving the division two championship pennant.
New Lincolnshire County Cricket League general secretary Andrew Richley (Market Rasen) being welcomed aboard by chairman Bob Welton.
Club representatives during the AGM held at Market Rasen CC.
Disappointed to see Scothern not promoted,they have done wonders with the ground and facilities at their disposal, no wonder people get frustrated with red tape and rules -regulations, surely if the ground is good enough for div 1 players then its good enough for prem!
ReplyDeleteAgree with anon. Bob Welton held Cherry Willingham back for years and they have proved there is not much difference in the standard with a fantastic first season in the Premier League. Unfortunately village clubs' faces just do not fit with this guy in charge.
ReplyDeleteTheres no question about the ability of sum of the cherry team but the ground and the wicket in paticular are s**t
DeleteIf you must make comments of this nature be a man and put your name to it . These sort of comments do not help the situation Cherry Willingham have not had their ground reported by anyone as unfit for cricket at this level . You should read blogs 25th/26th October 2011 to see that I got the blame for holding Cherry Willingham back for years now you are saying that the ground and "PITCH" are not good enough to play at the Top Level . Grounds are independently marked/assessed and clubs vote on make up of Divisions at the AGM, so it's not my decision is it ? Seems to me that I'm DAMNED IF I DO AND DAMNED IF I DON'T .I think you ought to read the rules thoroughly before making such statements !
DeleteIf you are not brave enough to put your names to these false accusations I would suggest a couple of hours study of our League rules and ground reporting system , then when that's completed and a modicum of understanding is reached you may realise that it is not me or the management committee that make these decisions but the member clubs by method of a democratic vote . So maybe your faceless accusations should be levelled at the full membership not one individual , I cannot outvote the people that count {nb the member clubs}
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of interest , it might be pointed out to the brave souls who write anonymously accusing me of bias against village clubs that it was I who recommended the inclusion of Scothern 2nd XI {a small village near Lincoln}into our League . It would have been easier to have an election as League rules allow for 50 teams in membership , but of course , that may have meant that Scothern did not gain admittance or one of the bottom two clubs not being re-elected . Whatever the result of that election may have been would Anonymous have blamed me and made the same ridiculous accusations,I hope not, but maybe in his world of bias I think he probably would . HOW WRONG CAN THIS PERSON BE ?????
ReplyDelete