BAILDON have proposed that matches in the Dales Council League be reduced from 45 overs per innings to 40 overs per innings.

"We just feel that matches are going on too long," explained Baildon representative Bernard Greaves, "and we play 40 overs per side in cup games."

The proposal was seconded by Crompark and will go forward to the league's annual meeting at Pudsey Congs on Thursday, November 6.

Baildon also proposed that points to the non-offending side in forfeited matches should be increased from 15 to 18.

The league's results and fixtures secretary Ken Firth explained: "The average winning points score in a Bradford League fixture is 17.5 points."

Another change to the points system was proposed by the league's executive committee and seconded by Pudsey Congs: That an abandoned game where play starts should be five points per side plus bonus points, while an abandoned game where there is no play should be four points per side. The current rule is the opposite way round.

The Dales Council Umpires' Association proposed that a front-foot no ball in cup matches should result in a free hit, and that was seconded by Halifax Direct.

Pudsey St Lawrence seconded the executive committee's proposal that an adult player who has been selected for 12 or more league and cup games for a senior league team that season cannot play in a Dales Council League match in the same campaign without emergency committee sanction.

Similarly, it is proposed that anyone who has played in 12 or more league or cup matches in a season for a first team in the Dales Council League cannot play for a second or third team in the league in the last four matches if they stand a chance of promotion, the championship or avoiding relegation or if their opponents are in an identical situation.

Crompark backed that proposal of the executive committee, and they also seconded their proposal that red, Grade A, quartered balls be standardised throughout the league.

League secretary Ron Mackenzie added: "Clubs can use their stock of current balls in 2015 and then use either Lord's (about £9) or Morrants (about £8.50), but in 2016 it will be Lord's or Morrant balls only."

* Leeds Sikh are considering putting a second team into the Dales Council League.