Another washout adds to pile-up

THE Guernsey Cricket Association's proposals for re-structuring the evening league look set to go ahead in 2008, but finishing this year's competition is becoming a problem. Last night's Cobo and St Pierre's potential title decider is the latest match to be washed out and organisers admit they are becoming concerned.

With both teams having played 11 games each, Cobo are top, having lost one fewer game than their rivals.

Another defeat for St Pierre would almost ensure that they would not be getting their hands on the Rozel Shield as they would then have to rely on both Corinthians and Rovers defeating Cobo, something which is highly unlikely.

The match will now be re-scheduled and while the GCA has the use of the KGV up until the end of September, the nights are shortening quickly and alternative dates are few.

'We'll start all games at 5.45pm but even then we're still struggling to get 15 overs in. We've pretty much got half a dozen games left.

'Hopefully, the rest of this week and next week will be fine.'

Meanwhile, there is positive news on the proposed evening league changes for 2008 which is to re-branded as a Twenty20 competition.

Latter says the new-look league will allow greater leeway in re-scheduling games.

The 2007 league should have been completed on 3 August.

'With the season prolonging so much, the struggle is trying to get it finished.

'We are two or three weeks behind.

'In the main there's not been too much dissent.Most people have been fairly agreeable to the two or three main points in it.

His proposals would see the top two divisions expanded from eight to 10 teams each. The Twenty20 format will take place in an eight-week period in the height of summer to get the best of the light.

The evening league will continue either side of the Twenty20 slot with divisions split in two following a round robin, climaxing in a straight knockout for trophies named the GCA Cup, Trophy, Shield, Vase and Plate - one per division.

Paul Porter, the secretary of Rovers, the largest cricket club in the island, is a fan of the shake-up, but is wary of the last time when the evening league was re-structured under former GCA president Gary Tapp.

'I think there's scope for changes as long as we don't go back to the reserve leagues from the Gary Tapp days,' he said.

'I sympathise with Mark. His biggest problem has been with rearrangements.

'It must be a nightmare and that's one of the issues that gets resolved in the proposals. Subject to what the final proposals are - we're open-minded.

'But until you see the final proposals you can't say yea or nay.'