Hirst Courtney II and Stamford Bridge join HPH York Vale League ranks (From York Press)

Hirst Courtney II and Stamford Bridge join HPH York Vale League ranks

12:48pm Thursday 10th November 2011 in York Vale League By Martin Jarred

TWO new sides were elected to the HPH York Vale Cricket League at the annual general meeting – Hirst Courtney II and Stamford Bridge.

Hirst, who gained promotion to division one last season, will have several players from their burgeoning junior section in their second team.

Bridge, who have two sides in the York & District Senior League, will also field a development team in the Vale League.

Two clubs, Goole Town and Barmby Moor, applied for re-election after conceding more than two games during 2011.

Goole were re-elected by an overwhelming majority after club secretary David Caldicott put their case to the meeting at Fulfordgate WMC.

Barmby Moor, who did not attend, were also kept in by a slender margin.

Tadcaster Magnet, who also conceded several games last season, resigned from the league.

However, it is possible that Thorp Arch & Boston Spa, who share Tadcaster’s Station Road ground, may put in a second team in the Vale League next season to compensate.

They are hoping to recruit players from the Bramham & Clifford club which recently quit the Wetherby League.

The Vale League management committee has given Thorp Arch a mid-December deadline to put in their application.

When that decision is known the league will be able to work on its divisional structure and fixtures.

A new points system will be in operation next season.

The winning team will receive 30 points, the losers none, with tied, cancelled or abandoned matches seeing sides receive 15 points each. Bonus points will only be awarded to the losing side.

Any team which cancels or concedes a fixture will see 30 points awarded to the opposition.

An increase in fines for late submitted scorecards was also agreed.

A rule-change proposal by Ovington about match conditions was also voted in.

If a match cannot start at the scheduled time due to ground or weather conditions, the captains shall agree the number of overs to be played. If they cannot agree, one over from each innings will be deducted for every seven minutes lost.

The management committee was re-elected along with new treasurer Dave Morton (Kelfield) and Steve Relf (Pocklington).

Long-serving Frank Stones, who recently won the Sporting Hero accolade in The Press’ Community Pride Awards, was elected senior vice-president with a role as a roving ambassador for the league.

League chairman Shane Hargrave presented a framed colour photograph, donated by The Press, of Westow’s ground surrounded by bright yellow oilseed rape fields to Dave Welford from the Ryedale-based club.

The gesture was to acknowledge Westow’s fundraising efforts towards their new pavilion.

The picture was taken several years ago when the Westow ground featured in a St Ivel advertising campaign.