Keith Moss

JCT600 Bradford League president Keith Moss has promised that everything possible will be done to make sure that next year's Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup is run to the highest possible standards.

Speaking in the wake of the completion of this season's competition with Pudsey St Lawrence defeating East Bierley by five wicket in the final at Bradford & Bingley, Mr Moss has promised that all aspects of the comeption will be reviewed.

He said: "The Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup is a prestigious competion and we need to make sure that the problems we have experienced this season are ironed out.

"The league chairman Graham Reid and the Management Board have already established a sub-committee to look at the playing conditions for next season, cup and shield and now they will also look at the arrangements for future finals.

"We realise there are lessons we have to learn and there are issues we have to address if we want the Sovereign Health Care Priiestley Cup to meet the the high standards we expect of a Bradford League competition."

Reflecting on this season's playing conditions where ties had to be settled on the day, Mr Moss said: "We realise from the comments we have received from clubs and followers of Bradford League cricket that they were not widely popular. We have also received a lot of positive suggestions and ideas which will be considered.

"I think it is fair to say that in many ways we were lucky to get away with it. There were one or two tricky moments but we know the regulations need to be closely looked at."

Reflecting on last Sunday's final, Mr Moss added: "It was very frustrating to the players and spectators that we ran out of natural light and the match went into a second day.

"That is something we have to avoid and it is clear that we need to start finals earlier to try and avoid this problem. It is absolutely essential if the final continues to be played at the end of August that we start at noon."

He promised that a number of organisational issues would be reviewed by the cup sub-committee and plans put in place for future finals.

He also said that he was determined to see loutish behaviour eradicated at future finals. He added: "There was a small loutish group whose raucous chanting and inconsiderate behaviour spoilt the enjoyment of many loyal cricket fans. We need to look at what can be done to stop them from deterring decent cricket fans from watching and enjoying future Priestley Cup finals."