Cricket-ball offer is rejected by Aire-Wharfe League (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Cricket-ball offer is rejected by Aire-Wharfe League

3:49pm Thursday 29th October 2009 in Sport By Bill Marshall

The Aire-Wharfe League have turned down a sponsorship package worth more than £15,000.

The offer from Dewsbury-based Solly Sports Limited meant that clubs would use the Reader Sovereign ball and the sports company would put £15,000 into the league’s dinner and trophies over the next five years.

In addition, they would supply free balls for each of the league’s cup finals, also from 2010-14.

The league also had the option to change the choice of ball after a year if they were not happy with the Reader Sovereign.

Despite each ball working out at less than £16.50, clubs voted 36-0 against the sponsorship package at the League’s council meeting at Otley Rugby Union Club.

One league representative said: “A lot of clubs have a strong relationship with their local supplier, and they have helped out clubs before in difficult circumstances, and not only with cricket balls but with other things too.”

Alwoodley and Addingham, who finished in the bottom two places in Division C, were up for re-election, and both were readmitted on 34-0 votes.

No new clubs had applied for membership for 2010 but retiring league secretary Howard Clayton said: “I have received a phone call from the chairman of Old Modernians, who in 2000 were voted into the league on a 24-0 vote – the only club to receive a 24-0 vote.

“But they never took their place in the league because of a players’ revolt.

“However, in 2011 they will appear on this voting slip as potential league members.”

The meeting discussed eight resolutions but only one was passed – that the movement of sightscreens should be the responsibility of the batting side.

Ilkley’s proposal stated: “In situations where there is a left-handed/right-handed pair at the crease, the sightscreens could be moved six times an over, and they often require two or more players to move them.

“We feel time saved by ‘off-duty’ batsmen doing the job would save, in some cases, up to 15 minutes per inn-ings.”

The proposal, which was backed by the league’s management committee, was seconded by Woodhouse and passed 23-6.