JSovereign Health Care Priestlu Cup ties switched

Posted: June 1, 2008

All of today's Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup and Shield ties were abandoned because of the wet weather and the JCT 600 Bradford League Management Board have ruled that they will now be played on Sunday, June 29.

The only exception is the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield tie between between Hartshead Moor and Morley which will be played on Sunday, June 8 as originally planned.

The decision was made after the Management Board considered the opinions of the competing clubs and the poor weather forecast for the coming week.

The decision means that the second round will now be played when the third round was originally scheduled.

Each of the subsequent rounds will be pushed back with the third round now due for July 13, the semi-finals for August 10 and the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield final will be switched from August 10 to September 7.

JCT 600 Bradford League Management Board Media and Marketing officer Alan Birkinshaw said: "Having listened to the views of the competing clubs, and looked at the weather forecast for the coming week, the Management Board decided that switching the ties to a date when each club could be treated equally, was the best option for the competition.

"At the end of the day the league is about its clubs and therefore it is important that the Management Board takes consideration of their views.

"It was extremely pleasing that when the decision was communicated to the clubs there were many positive reactions to the the outcome that was arrived at."

The Management Board have pointed out that there is no flexibility in future rounds to make a similar decision and are reminding clubs of their duties to make every effort to make sure their grounds are fit for play.

The draw for the third round will take place on Sunday, June 29 at the conclusion of the tie between Woodlands and Bradford & Bingley.