Devon Cricket Board - Clubs asked to vote on return to regionalisation

DEVON League clubs are being asked to vote in one of the biggest divisional reorganisations for more than a decade.
League officials have listened to clubs lower down the ladder asking for a return to regionalisation in the first and second eleven competitions.
East and West regionalisation was in place in the lower divisions of both competitions from 2001 to 2007 after the old East Devon League was swallowed up in the last big shake up.
Although the 1st XI competition went countywide in 2008, the East-West split for 2nd XI cricket was left in place.
The world of work and cricket has changed dramatically since 2008, leaving smaller clubs with problems getting sides out on a good day.
Uplyme to Whitchurch – 80 miles each way for all practical purposes – to play a game of D Division cricket is among the longer trips faced last season.
Phil Bees, the Devon League’s fixture secretary, has plenty of similar examples, such as Buckland Monachorum to Chardstock, another 160-miler there and back.
Having listened to clubs’ concerns, Bees has drawn up a blueprint that will be put to clubs at a series of divisional meetings over the next few weeks.
If clubs like what they see, the newly redrawn divisions could be voted in at an extraordinary meeting.
“We believe regionalisation is key due to the issues raised by clubs and players regarding the amount of travelling they have to do and the time it takes to be able to play cricket on a Saturday afternoon,” said Bees.
This has resulted in clubs struggling to field full teams in fixtures and being able to attract players.
“There are two proposals on the table, which are standalone and not dependent upon each other to succeed.
“The proposals have come about after the three chairmen’s meetings held in August.
“It was clear that whilst there was very little or no appetite for an all-through league combining first and second teams, regionalisation was something many clubs would be interested in.”
The proposal in the 1st XI league would be for the top four divisions, where independent umpires are employed, to remain as county-wide divisions, with regionalisation starting at D Division.
With more clubs from the east of the county having teams in the 1st XI League, there would be a D Division East, a D Division West and an E Division East.
The 2nd XI league would need a bit more work.
“At the moment we already have regionalisation in the 2nd XI league, starting at the D Division level,” said Bees.
“The proposal would be to move this (split) up to the B Division.
“This would significantly reduce traveling for clubs such as Yelverton in the west and Axminster in the east or others like them.”
Inevitably there is some tidying up to do as redrawing divisions creates some conflicts.
“A solution will also need to be found to avoid having teams from the same club playing in the same division,” said Bees.
“This has been brought about by the relegation of Bovey Tracey 3rd XI and Chagford 2nd XI from the current D Division West into a division where their fourth and third teams respectively operated in 2014.
“A League rule prevents this, but there are two potential solutions.
“Bovey Tracey 4th XI and Chagford 2nd XI are transferred to the East division, not too big a problem considering their locations.
“Or the bottom West division is split into two, with current numbers that would mean six teams in each division, playing each other three times.”
Bees stressed that no definite decision had been made and clubs are welcome to put forward counter proposals.
But he said the clubs directly affected had already indicated their backing.
“At the D, E and F division chairmen’s meeting, the majority of clubs were keen on implementing regionalisation for the 2015 season, but that would require an extraordinary general meeting of clubs to agree.”
If the proposals go through the current D, E and F 1st XI divisions will be replaced as follows for 2015.
D Division East: Feniton, Uplyme, Seaton, Kentisbeare, Clyst SG, Honiton, Whimple, Kilmington and Cullompton.
D Division West: Kingsbridge Plymouth CS&R, Yelverton, Ashburton, Whitchurch, Bridestowe, Kenn, Chelston, Kingskerswell and Buckland MC.
E Division East: Halberton, Exwick, Topsham, Tiverton, Upottery, Woodbury, Chardstock, Culmstock, Newton SC, Cheriton Fitzpaine.
In the 2nd XI competition the changes are more widespread as the split takes place higher up the league ladder.
B Division East: Bradninch, Sidmouth III, Braunton, Alphington, Thorverton, Clyst Hydon, Bideford, Axminster, Seaton and Barnstaple.
B Division West: Plymouth III, Abbotskerwell, Tavistock, Cornwood, Torquay, Ivybridge, Plymouth CS&R, Kingsbridge, Yelverton, South Devon
C Division East: Shobrooke Park, Whimple, Kentisbeare, Clyst SG, Uplyme, Kilmington, North Devon III, Countess Wear, Exmouth III, Upottery.
C Division West: Lewdown, Stoke Gabriel, Dartington, Ashburton, Paignton III, Plympton III, Babbacombe, Cornwood IV, Shaldon, Abbotskerswell III.
D Division East: Honiton, Halberton, Ottery III, Filleigh, Thorverton III, Feniton, Kenn, Exwick, Cullompton, Topsham SJ.
D Divison West: Bovey III, Chagford II, Ipplepen III, Yelverton III, Bovey IV, Dartington III, Chelston, Whitchurch, Plymouth IV, Lewdown III, Chagford III, Torquay III.