A LOCAL cricketer has produced a blueprint for a two division set-up in a bid to make the game more competitive at second team level.

Ian Senior plays for Greenmount seconds in the Bolton League but feels that for many teams in the 14-strong league, the season is more or less over within a few weeks of the start.

"By that time, four or five clubs have virtually wrapped things up, leaving the rest little or nothing to play for," he said.

"By splitting the league and introducing promotion and relegation issues, it should keep everyone interested for the whole of the season."

The scheme would mean the second teams league would be split into two sections based on last season's positions. Teams in each division would play each other twice at home and twice away.

The two top teams from the lower division would be promoted at the end of the season, replacing the two teams at the bottom of the higher division. If points are tied the 'merit' system, in use at present to decide championships, will be used.

The matter will now be discussed at next Monday's Bolton League meeting, but to implement the change, it needs the agreement of all 14 member clubs.

Ian, with over 20 years experience of second team cricket, added: "It's quite a rational thing to do but I know a lot of other players feel as I do that we need to do something to inject more interest through the league."

Bolton League secretary Ray Taylor said: "Whether the idea is taken up is down to the clubs. It is up to them to decide if they want it."

If the two division idea gets the go-ahead it will mean two additional dates for each section. The dates used in the suggested fixtures are May 9 (National KO second round) and May 31 (Bank Holiday Monday).

As is stands, the make-up of the new divisions would be:

Division One: Bradshaw, Greenmount, Walkden, Little Lever, Astley Bridge, Kearsley and Farnworth SC.

Division Two: Eagley, Westhoughton, Farnworth, Tonge, Egerton, Heaton and Horwich.

Proposed fixtures

DIVISION 1

April 24: L. Lever v A Bridge, Farnworth SC v Bradshaw, Greenmount v Walkden.

May 1st : Kearsley v FSC, Brad v LL, AB v Walkden.

2nd: FSC v AB, Gmt v Kear, LL v Walk

8th: AB v Gmt, Brad v LL, Walk v FSC

9th: AB v Kear, LL v FSC, Walk v Gmt (*extra date)

15th: Gmt v B, FSC v Kear, LL v AB

22nd: Brad v FSC, Kear v LL, Walk v AB

29th: Kear v AB, FSC v LL, Gmt v Brad

31st: AB v LL, Brad v Walk, Kear v Gmt (*extra date) Bank Holiday Monday.

June 5th: LL v FSC, Walk v Kear, AB v Brad

12th: G v LL, Kear v Walk, FSC v AB

19th: Walk v AB, Brad v Kear, LL v Gmt

26th: AB v Brfad, Gmt v FSC, Kear v LL

July 3rd: Gmt v LL, FSC v Walk, Brad v AB

4th: Brad v Walk, LL v Kear, FSC v Gmt

10th: FSC v Kear, Gmt v AB, LL v Brad

17th:AB v FSC, Brad v Gmt, Kear v Walk

24th: Brad v AB, Kear v FSC, Walk v LL

31st: LL v Brad, Gmt v AB, FSC v Walk

August 7th: Brad v Gmt, Walk v FSC, AB v Kear

14th: FSC v Brad, Gmt v Kear, LL v Walk

15th: AB v Gmt, B v Kear, Walk v LL

21st: FSC v LL, Gmt v Walk, Kear v AB

22nd: LL v G, Walk v Kear, Brad v FSC

28th: AB v Walk, Kear v Brad, Gmt v FSC

29th: Walk v Brad, Kear v Gmt, AB v LL

Sept 5th: Walk v Gmt, Kear v Brfad, AB v FSC

12th: FSC v Gmt , LL v Kear, Walk v Brad.

DIVISION 2

April 24th: Eagley v Farn, Tonge v Egerton, Heaton v Horwich.

May 1st: West v Tonge, Farn v Hor, Eger v Eagley

2nd : Tonge v Eag, Hea v Farn, West v Hor

8th: Hor v Eag, Eger v West, Farn v Hea

9th: West v Tong, Hea v Eag, Hor v Eger (*extra date)

15th: Hea v Hor, Tong v West, Eger v Farn

22nd: Eag v Hea, Farn v Tong, Hor v West

29th: Tong v Hor, West v Eger, Hea v Farn

31st: West v Farn, Eag v Hor, Tong v Hea (*extra date. Bank Holiday Monday)

June 5th: Hor v Tong, Eag v Hea, Farn v West

12th: West v Hea, Tong v Eag, Eger v Hor

19th: Farn v Eger, Hor v Hea, Eag v West

26th: Eger v Eag, Tong v Hea, West v Farn

July 3rd: Hea v West, Hor v Eger, Eag v Tong

4th : Hea v Eger, Hor v Tong, Eag v West

10th: Tong v West, Hea v Eger, Hor v Farn

17th: Farn v Eag, Eger v Hea, West v Hor

24th: Eger v Tong, Farn v West, Hor v Eag

31st: Eag v Farn, West v Eger, Hea v Tong

August 7th: Farn v Tong, Hor v Hea, Eag v Eger

14th: Hea v Eag, Eger v West, Tong v Farn

15th: Farn v Hea, Eag v Eger, Hor v West

21st: Tong v Farn, Eger v Hor, West v Eag

22nd; Eag v Hor, Hea v Tong, Farn v Eger

28th: Eger v Farn, W v Eag, Tong v Hor,

2b Eger v Hea, Farn v Hor, Tong v Eag

Sept 5th: West v Hea, v v Tong, Farn v Eag

Hea v West, Eag v Tong, Hor v Farn