ENTRY into the Cawthorne Cup will no longer be compulsory for Dales Council League clubs.

The proposal by Baildon, which was seconded by Cookridge, was carried 8-4 during the league's annual meeting at Pudsey Congs.

Clubs now have until December 31 of the previous year to decide whether they want to enter the second-team knockout competition.

New clubs and new teams from existing clubs must now provide an umpire.

Clubs in their first year of membership (on probation) will not be allowed to vote on league matters until after they have been made full members but will be allowed to voice an opinion.

Start times for the last three matches of the season will revert to 1pm from 1.30pm, reversing the rule change of last year.

Umpires who stand in at the bowler's end will receive the full fee but only £10 from each team if they are at the striker's end throughout.

In order to be eligible to bat in the second innings, a player must take the field in the first innings for a minimum of ten overs, instead of the one over allowed in 2017.

Meanwhile, it has been agreed – after a discussion at the end of the annual meeting – that every club must provide an umpire for four matches in 2018, although it need not necessarily be the same person.

They would be placed with a regular umpire in a game not involving their own club and the hope is that eventually the 'volunteer' would become a regular umpire.

League president Geoff Cope said: "Clearly we have had a problem with umpiring (numbers) last season.

"Standing at the bowler's end is a strenuous job and we need a shortlist of people that we can call upon to help out.

"We are not asking for 15 to 20 games a season but we need a list of people who don't mind doing the odd game."

Dales Council Umpires' Association secretary Colin White said: "The insurance premium is £13.50 per year per umpire and we need 28 umpires to cover matches.

"If stand-in umpires pay £20 to us after they umpire their third match, then they will be covered for insurance, although we will make up the shortfall if we have to."