BRADFORD-based Bowling Baptists have been provisionally admitted into the Mewies Solicitors Craven League for the 2023 season.

They were accepted at the league’s March meeting at Cross Hills Social Club, with 21 clubs voting in favour and one against.

Baptists, who are currently in the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League, play at Manningham Mills.

Craven League secretary Peter Foster said: “Bowling Baptists gave an outstanding presentation at our February league meeting, but this acceptance is only the first hurdle.

“The next step is that they will receive a visit from our grounds committee.”

Bowling Baptists, whose motto is Unity is Strength, intend to bring two teams into the league.

Their first team finished bottom of Mutual League Group B in 2021, while their second team were fifth in Group C.

It was also announced that Bradley will not be fielding a second team in Division Four of the Craven League in 2022 due to a lack of players.

The league’s executive committee will look to fill the blank dates while trying to ensure that only Division Four fixtures are altered.

Meanwhile, Foster told the meeting that this season’s Manorlands Plate 100 competition would be staffed by panel umpires.

He said: “After this season, we will try and go back to the tried and trusted format of involving club umpires.

“But I and Martin Burgess (umpires’ appointments secretary) will need a week’s notice of when the matches are due to be played so that panel umpires can be put in place.

“If the matches are called off due to weather the intention is to play them at the same time the following week.”