HORWICH cricket manager David White says player availability was the primary reason for pulling out of the ECB’s National T20 competition in favour of the Hamer Cup, with their place in the former now taken up by Lostock.

Sunday’s Area T20 Finals Day at Bradshaw was washed out, with this Sunday’s reserve day clashing with Horwich's Hamer Cup semi-final at Kearsley.

The Bolton League offered Sunday, August 12 as an alternative date for that fixture, but Horwich have unavailability issues due to holidays.

They were also unsure whether their second-team players who would step up to fill the gaps would be eligible having featured in this Sunday’s Birtwistle Cup semi-final at home to Little Lever.

“We were given the option of postponing the Hamer Cup until the week after,” said White. “But what it meant was we have a couple of lads who can’t play due to holiday commitments.

“And we couldn't get clarification from the league to say that anybody who played in our second-team Birtwistle Cup semi-final on Sunday could play the week after in the Hamer Cup.

“On Sunday morning, we couldn't get clarification, so we were left with no choice.

“We offered to play the T20 semi this Friday against Moorside at Horwich – because we get home advantage for some reason – and the final on a weekday. But the ECB refused.

“The league also offered to start the Hamer Cup at 11am and then once that had finished go over to Bradshaw to play the T20. But how that was going to work, I don’t know.

“These things happen, and they’ve happened for decades.

“If you do well in competitions that are nothing to do with the Bolton League, you end up with fixture clashes.

“It’s always the case that the ECB and LCB competitions aren't your priority because you want to do well in your domestic stuff.

“We’re still in every competition the Bolton League has, although the league is going to be a big ask, and we want some more silverware (to add to the BCL T20 crown).

“It’s just circumstances, and we’re not frustrated with the Bolton League.

“The players are comfortable with the decision we’ve made, but it’s still disappointing because we wanted to have a go at the T20.”

While Horwich are comfortable with the Bolton League’s handling of the situation, White has admitted there needs to be more consistency with rulings in all areas.

He said: “We need to be consistent, so all clubs are aware and we don’t rock up at a ground, for example, and the rain’s tippling down and we don't know what to do.

“The rules seem to read one way one week and another the next.

“We also had a situation where because we’d qualified for the T20 area finals, we had to bring our Peter Stafford game forward to last Sunday.

“Some lads then couldn't play in the second team on Saturday because they’d played in the firsts the week before.

“Although it does seem a bit harsh because we’re in the holiday period, and we’re being penalised for being successful, I understand it. But as long as that’s consistent.”

On Sunday’s Hamer Cup semi, White added: “We’ve been to Kearsley once this year and got a good hiding, bowled out for 97. But we’re confident. We’ve been playing well of late.”

Lostock have taken up an invitation to replace Horwich in the T20 Area Finals Day on the basis of being beaten finalists in the BCL T20. They will play Moorside in the first semi-final at 10.30am before Ormskirk play Chorley in the second semi. The final will take place at either 4.30pm or 5pm. The winners go through to the regional final.