Ottery St Mary, Honiton and Kilmngton all picked up divisional titles at the Tolchards Devon Cricket League annual meeting, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.
Ottery will be playing B Division cricket for the first time in 2016 after winning C Division West ahead of Uplyme and Lyme Regis. Chairman John Tierney collected the cup.
Kilmimgton’s Tom Gooding took home the D Division East champions trophy.
And Honiton sent Andrew Lapping to pick-up the D Division East 2nd XI cup.
Clubs met in Exeter last Friday night to go through a list of proposed rule changes – most of which they voted against.
Promotion play-off games will be played on neutral grounds in future to avoid either side travelling long distances.
Play-offs were new in 2015 and switch was put up by Plymouth CS&R, who had to travel to Uplyme over the border in Dorset for a West-versus-East decider.
Budleigh Salterton wanted the price of teas to rise from £33-42. They last rose in 2001.
There were so few votes in favour teller didn’t bother to finish counting and the proposal was thrown out.
One of the few major changes to go through was a change in the way batting points are earned, which was put up by Exeter.
Batting points in 50-over games will be given for every 50 runs scored up to 250.
In shorter games the bonus points are awarded at 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 runs.
Plymouth’s proposal to scrap the tea interval altogether was a virtual non-starter.
Tavistock agreed to second the proposal so a vote could take place – and when the vote came they voted against!. Only three clubs supported having a 15-minute turnround instead of a 30-minute tea break.
Clubs in lower divisions -1st and 2nd XIs – won concessions to bring start times forward if both captains agree.
However, Stokeinteighead’s rule change to bring in 40-over cricket lacked support, as did Exwick’s idea allowing guest members from other clubs to float between 2nd XIs to make up numbers.
Exwick were also behind moves tidy up scruffy overs littered with wides and no-balls – a practice common in youth cricket.
Instead of extra deliveries for wides and no-balls, the offending club would be penalised two runs. The regulation would not apply in the last over.
Clubs were unenthusiastic and voted heavily against.
Mark Horwell (Cornwood) was voted in as the new league treasurer, replacing Graham Munday (Sidmouth), who stood down.
The reformed South Brent Club were elected as new members.
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