AGM 2016 - League Management Committee Report

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2016
LEAGUE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT

The 17th season of the league saw some excellent cricket. Chester-le-Street were Premier Division champions for the fourth time but there were strong challenges for most of the season from Newcastle, Tynemouth and South Northumberland. Chester-le-Street also won the Banks Salver whilst Durham Cricket Academy won the Co-operative Funeralcare T20 competition, the final being played again at Emirates Riverside. South Northumberland are to be congratulated on winning the National Club Championship for the third time in eleven seasons, a testament to the strength of NEPL cricket.

The winners of the First Division were Felling so they are promoted to the Premier Division. They replace Gateshead Fell who are relegated. Tudhoe are relegated to the Durham Cricket League after two seasons in the NEPL and are replaced by Burnopfield, the winners of the DCL. It was unfortunate that the ‘title decider’ match between Felling and Sacriston on the final day of the season was abandoned due to bad light and we will make changes for 2017 that will mean that matches in September finish earlier in the evening.

South Northumberland won the Second Division and Newcastle won the Sunday First Division. As winners of the Third Division, Boldon are promoted with Stockton relegated. Hetton Lyons won the Sunday Second Division and Chester-le-Street won the Midweek League. Chester-le-Street, Burnmoor and Sacriston won the Banks Bowl, Cup and Shield respectively and Chester-le-Street had also won the 2nd XI T20 competition.

A worrying feature was that the number of senior matches conceded, mainly Sunday league matches, was a record 20. The Match Play Sub-Committee and the LMC has been looking carefully at the reasons for match concessions and various changes have been discussed at the post-season meetings with a view to them being introduced for the 2017 or 2018 seasons.

Our junior competitions were successful though again the number of concessions is of concern. The Junior Sub-Committee will be meeting Club Junior Coordinators and discussions are also taking place with the County Cricket Boards to address the problems. Our thanks go in particular to Mark Appleton and Anth Marshall for their commitment and hard work.

A list of winners, runners up and relegated teams is presented below.

COMPETITION WINNERS - RUNNERS-UP - RELEGATED
Premier Division Chester-le-Street Newcastle Gateshead Fell
First Division Felling - Sacriston - Tudhoe
Second Division South Northumberland - Newcastle -Stockton
Third Division Boldon - Sunderland
Sunday First Division Newcastle - Benwell Hill
Sunday Second Division Hetton Lyons - Sacriston
Midweek League Chester-le-Street - Whitburn
Banks Salver Chester-le-Street - Benwell Hill
Banks Bowl Chester-le-Street - Tynemouth
Banks Cup Burnmoor - South Shields
Banks Shield Sacriston - Whitburn
Cooperative 1st XI Durham Cricket Academy - Stockton
Cooperative 2nd XI Chester-le-Street - Tynemouth
Under 15 Shield (Pot 1) Benwell Hill - Washington
Under 15 Cup (Pot 2) Tudhoe - Sunderland
Under 15 Plaque (Pot 3) Mainsforth - Blaydon
Under 13 South Shields - Hetton Lyons
Under 11 Hetton Lyons - South Shields

Clubs are to be congratulated for dealing efficiently with Disciplinary Regulations and Results Reporting Procedures. The League Management Committee regrets the need to impose fines for not complying with administrative procedures but this is considered necessary to assist in the efficient running of the NEPL and to help ensure that we comply with ECB requirements.

I wish to thank our three major sponsors, Dukes Cricket Balls, the Banks Group and Co-operative Funeralcare for their continued support. I wish also to thank our panel of umpires and the dedicated work of Peter Brown as our appointments officer. Many Third Division matches and an increasing number of Second Division matches had only one umpire. Like all leagues the NEPL needs more umpires and we would encourage Clubs to encourage players who are coming to the end of their playing days to take up umpiring.

I would also like to thank all members of the League Management Committee for their dedicated work during the past 12 months. We welcomed Jeff Marshall as our new Assistant Secretary with special responsibility for registrations. Keith Telford is standing down as Results Secretary after many years, but we are pleased that he is continuing as Treasurer and that Keith Marshall has agreed to be our new Results Secretary. John Smithson is also standing down from the LMC and I would like to thank John for his many contributions over the last four years. Finally the Northumberland Cricket Board has appointed Marcus North to be its third representative on the LMC and we are looking forward to the fresh insight that Marcus will bring to our work.

The Annual Dinner and Presentation evening and the Junior Presentation evening were both enjoyable and successful events. I would like to thank all those involved in their organisation, but particular recognition goes to Keith Shaw and Mark Appleton

The NEPL has been participating in the Inter Leagues Working Party that has been working to re-establish a pyramid system for promotion and relegation between leagues in Durham and Northumberland. A new pyramid system will apply for promotion to and relegation from the NEPL. A booklet explaining the new arrangements will be available at the AGM for any Club that did not collect this at the post-season meeting. All Clubs are reminded that they must continue to comply with the criteria on facilities, ground conditions and club structure set out in the booklet.

Of particular interest for 2017 is that Premier Division matches will be reduced from 120 overs to 110 overs. The LMC is grateful for the proposals made by the Premier Division Working Group on the changes that are needed for this new format.

In addition to the motion presented to the AGM, the LMC and its Sub-Committees will be carefully examining all points discussed at the post-season meetings with umpires, club officials and team captains and will be making changes to our rules, regulations and procedures that we think will further improve NEPL cricket.

Keith Robson
Chairman

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