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
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