Time to turn back the clock - Anthony

'I THINK it's time to go back,' says the man who more than 20 years ago pushed for the under-fire conference-style evening cricket league format. Guernsey clubs meet to review the evening format on Monday night, but the mind of Salemites' stalwart Ralph Anthony is already made up.

'It has been given a chance but I don't think it has worked as I expected,' said the man who pushed for the structure as far back as the early 1980s.

Three options will be discussed at Monday's meeting at Cobo Bay Hotel.

One is to retain the existing format, which has been in operation three seasons; the second proposes a return to the traditional format of divisions one, two, three etc.; and a third promotes an alternative composition whereby there is a more formalised first and second XI structure.

Anthony said the simple thing would be to return to the old ways but only as long as promotion and relegation is unfettered.

'If that is not going to be allowed we have to stay where we are.'

Anthony, along with many others, believes the existing format has seen a falling of standards and led to an identity problem.

'If we go back to divisions one to six, at least people will know where they are.'

Glenn Bradshaw, the NRG Pessimists B captain, remembers well the old format and believes that the new one just needs a bit more time.

'I actually think it could work. But it needs a little longer to settle down.

'Reserve One is finding its levels but it is taking its time to to do so.

St Pierre founder Paul Gallienne has no strong view either way, but said it was not on that Reserve One teams should play just 12 matches as they did this summer.

'We only had 12 games because one club dropped out and it wasn't enough cricket. Twelve is not enough with the money we are paying.'

Rovers, the 2004 Evening League champions and with more teams and more players than any other current side, are itching to get back to the traditional format.

'I think we'd still like to see change,' said Paul Porter. 'I don't think it is working.'

In contrast, Pilgrims stalwart Ashley Baigent is happy with his club's lot in Premier Four.

'I'm probably quite happy with it at the moment,' said the team-mate of Pilgrims' regular Darren Duquemin, who has been invited to act as an independent chairman at Monday's open meeting which has a 7.30 start.