CRAVEN League clubs have decided to battle on and try to resolve the key promotion and relegation issues by playing matches and collecting points rather than resorting to any contrived methods of beating the weather and the foot and mouth outbreak.

That was the course of action agreed by the Management Committee a few weeks ago, but after further problems with weather and deterioration in the foot and mouth situation, a meeting of clubs was convened on Monday night for further discussion.

Only four clubs were absent from a meeting described by league secretary Peter Marsden as "excellent".

"Basically, we have had no proposals from our clubs and there was no opposition when we put our ideas to the meeting," said Mr Marsden: "We aim to keep playing as best we can and hope that the weather improves and no more grounds are closed because of foot and mouth.

"We've also decided to bring forward the evening match programme, which normally starts in April, and this will get under way on Tuesday.

"Our initial target is to get the winners and runners-up situation in each league resolved, at which point we may shut down a division.

"Getting things sorted out at the top is our priority at the moment. Other considerations we can sort out later on."

The decision of Grindleton to close down their operation completely is one with which league officials are entirely in sympathy.

"The majority of the Grindleton players are involved in farming and agriculture and we fully appreciate their predicament." says Mr Marsden.

"They do not want to travel around the area and they don't want people visiting them. We entirely support their decision and admire their attitude to a very serious business."

While Hellifield and Gargrave grounds are closed by restrictions, they intend to try to complete their first-team schedule by playing all their games on their opponents grounds, but they have reluctantly decided that it is impracticable to expect that their reserve side can do this and they have been withdrawn from the league.

Results of games played will be withdrawn from league tables as per the rule.

The remaining clubs whose grounds are closed - Embsay, Carleton and Horton - will also attempt to carry on by switching games to opponents' grounds wherever possible.