The Minutes of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Meeting
held at Henfield Cricket Club on Tuesday 7th September 2004

Present 

D Horsman (Wisborough Green, in Chair), D Semmons (Treasurer), L Claydon (Competitions Secretary), N Nolan (Secretary & Selsey), P Tolchard (Results Coordinator) and representatives (all present) from Burgess Hill, Felbridge & S's, Henfield, Scaynes, South Bersted & B and Southwick. Apologies were received from N Teague (Chairman) and P Graves (President).
The Minutes of the Executive Committee of August 3rd and of the Disciplinary Hearing of August 24th were approved and signed. The action taken on August 24th re the Scaynes Hill letter, Richard Montgomerie and Ifield v Arundel was confirmed.

Proposed Changes to Rule

During a lengthy discussion, it was felt that clubs had been obliged to give a hurried response to the Questionnaire; it was agreed that the League had a sound base and its structure was successful and was best left alone. Thus, separate competitions (1st and 2nd X1's) should remain and that for the time being single-team clubs and member club 3rd X1's should not participate, meaning that Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Questionnaire should not be the subject of any proposed changes and that Section 5 was already effectively covered in the Rules. At the time of advising Executive Committee members of the outcome of the Questionnaire no response had been received from Broadbridge Heath (since received 2/9), Felbridge (7/9), Southwater (4/9, delayed by under stamping) and Southwick (still outstanding). Although Section 8 (below) appeared to be fraught with problems, it was agreed to put it to clubs as a proposal for change, along with proposals:

a) that any team scratching 4 league fixtures in any one season shall automatically be suspended from the League (and their records expunged) and have to re-apply for membership for the following season. (Section 6, Rule 11f)
b) that a 1.30pm start shall apply throughout August. (Section 7, Rule 10a)
c) that the tea interval shall be reduced from 30 minutes to 25. (Section 7e,Rule 10a)
d) that no matches be played on artificial pitches. (Section 7c, Rule 10a) 
e) that where pitch covers are available they may be used prior to the commencement of the game. The home team Captain must advise the Umpires and visiting Captain prior to the toss of the coin if covers are available. Thereafter, the Umpires shall decide whether they are to be used during the game. (Section 10, new Rule 10g)

f) that batting points shall be awarded (2 batting 1st, 1 batting second) at 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200. (Section 11, Rule 11a)
g) that 2 bowling points be awarded at the fall of wickets 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (including those of any absent players where a side is dismissed) to a side fielding first having won the toss (Section 12, Rule lla)
h) that a batting side with less than eleven players, including sides who have nominated eleven players but where one or more of them have NOT arrived at the ground at the time will not be permitted to declare their innings at the fall of a wicket if there are no further batsmen available. In such circumstances the batting side will be deemed to be all out. (Section 13, new Rule ? 11h)

Sunday Cup Competition

Mr Semmons reported a good atmosphere at the final at the County Ground on Monday 30th August where Ifield 206-3 beat Arundel 90. The teams had requested that their own umpires stand in the game, which was allowed. Richard Montgomerie made the presentations. Mr Semmons considered it less than likely that he would organise the competition in 2005 as fewer entrants than in 2004 were expected.

Other Reports

Mr Semmons reported a balance of £2,601, including Deposits of £685; fines so far totalled £385. He had had 16,500 'hits' on his website. Mr Claydon reported that he had not received statistics forms (due 4/9) from Pagham II, late for the third successive season. Burgess Hill II, Keymer I [rec'd 8/9] and no marks for the Laurie Cheesman Awards from Burgess Hill I & II, Eastergate I & II, Billingshurst I, Keymer I [rec'd 8/9], Pagham II and St Andrews II. Mr Claydon added that marks of  '0' had been used despite a request made for 1 to 10 and one team had marked two opponents '0' for all four categories which did no justice to the awards or to the efforts of the individual they seek to commemorate. It was agreed that fines for the late receipt of statistics forms and the Questionnaire should be imposed at the next full meeting. There had been 26 late match returns (29 last season). He anticipated problems with free dates next season (see overleaf) as fewer clubs would have both teams in parallel divisions.

Other Business

It was agreed to recommend to the AGM that the Annual Dinner in 2005 be organised by Slinfold and Southwater and that the clubs represented on the Executive Committee should be Ansty and either Billingshurst or Goring (Div 1), Henfield (again willing to stage the meetings) and either Crawley Eagles or Slinfold (Div 2), two from Broadbridge Heath, Clymping and Portslade (Div 3) and Horsham Trinity and one from Eastergate, Rustington and W'g Chippingdale (Div 4). Mr Thorns (Henfield) advised that he could obtain Reader 'County Match' balls, embossed with the League emblem, with the price kept at £10-25 (inc VAT) for three years. Mr Horsman advised that the Sussex League were forming their own 3rd XI Divisions and he thanked Mr Nolan for his efforts during the season as Secretary.