EAST LINDSEY LEAGUE DUE TO START TOMORROW

By Phil Burrell, Chairman – Cojos East Lindsey Cricket League


The 2012 Cojos East Lindsey Cricket League is due to get under way on Sunday 29th April (weather permitting). The league split into 2 divisions in 2011 and as a result of the high standard of cricket now being played, leg-side wides have been introduced to Division 1 for this coming season.
The league shall be made up of 17 teams, as we were joined by Holton le Clay 4th XI but then lost founder member Grainthorpe CC, the late withdrawal of Grainthorpe means an unbalance of 8 teams in Division 1 and 9 teams in Division 2.
The format of the league is 40 over a side cricket with bowlers limited to 8 overs per bowler. Each teams plays home and away and there are no charges made for teas, the home club is expected to provide teas for the visiting team and umpires, etc.
Division 1 favourites must be Skegness Sunday, they have won the league for 2 years running and they will be hoping to make it 3 on the trot this season. Other strong contenders will be Woodhall Wanderers, Alford Sunday XI and Tetford CC who all boast several ECB Premier League players. The promoted Freiston Leake and Leverton CC  and Holton le Clay 3rd XI will be looking forward to some giant killings this season after dropping very few points in 2011. Villagers Sutton on Sea CC who are progressing each season will be looking to challenge the top teams again. Graves Park CC with a mixture of young up and coming players and the more experience will provide a good combination as they look to secure Division 1 cricket for 2013.
Division 2 is expected to be wide open with 2011 relegated teams Louth Taverners and Friskney CC looking for an immediate return to Division 1, the youngsters of Cleethorpes Academy always produce strong cricket and will be difficult to beat, the new Holton le Clay 4th XI could be a handful as their youthful team could energise themselves to a promotion position. Brocklesby Park and Hainton will once again have a mixture of youth and experience, they will be hoping to get points in the bag before harvest as many players work in agriculture and therefore are unavailable during August. Keelby will be looking to improve their performances during 2011 as they enter their second year in the league. Both Grimoldby and Southbank will be looking to build on their mid table finish in 2011 and push for promotion again with a mixture of youth and experience.
Both divisions will take part in their own T20 competitions, with preliminary rounds taking place on 15th July (Div 1) and 19th August (Div 2) – this will be followed by a finals day for each division, Division 1 being Sunday 26th August at Alford CC and Division 2 on Sunday 2nd September at Skegness CC where two semi finals and the final will be played on the same day.
Results for matches will now be entered on play cricket as we move away from paper score sheets, admittedly we waiting to see how other leagues managed this before making the decision but it has to be the natural step as we move away from snail mail!
Once again we owe a big thanks to Cojos of Louth www.cojos.co.uk for sponsoring the league, and also for supplying the league balls in partnership with Readers to ensure our clubs gets the best possible deal on cricket balls. Please bear Cojos in mind when you require new equipment, they can access kit from all the leading manufacturers and will do their best to match any online price.
The league is always on the lookout for new umpires, if anyone would like to offer their services please contact Umpires Appointments Secretary John Stone at umpires2012@elcl.co.uk fees are currently set at £25 each when two umpires standing or £38 when a single umpire is present.
For up to date league information please visit www.elcl.co.uk or http://elcl.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp follow us on Twitter @elcricketleague