East Leagues; Joint EWL and EML Management Meeting: 7.30, Thursday 16th Apr 2009 back to meetings page

Present

Russell Nutter	Ö	Bob King		David Roberts	Ö
David Burt		Neil Liversedge	Ö	Pritpal Sagoo	Ö
Janet Goody		Sarah Mann	Ö	Robert Southgate	Ö
Cliff Gulbis		Samantha Menear	Ö	Trevor Williams	Ö
Barry Harness	Ö	Richard Munns	Ö
Nick Hoyle	Ö	Rosemary Prince	Ö

Apologies: Janet Goody, David Burt, Bob King

Minutes of previous meeting: Agreed as correct.

1. Correspondence

1.1. Formal warning issued to Plashet re behaviour to East League officials.

1.2. Objectives to be met before readmittance to the League in 2009/10 set for Rutland HC.

2. Playing matters

2.1. Issues from previous meeting
Mile End Stadium - floodlights have been repaired and pitch markings renewed.
Plashet teamsheets - final warnings on teamsheet accuracy have been issued by SM and PS to both teams.

2.2. Season end date
Agreed that Sunday 5th April would be the last date for matches.

2.3. Incomplete transfers
Noted that at Feb 1^st, the only incomplete transfer was Andrew Hockley from BSE to St Ives*.

2.4. EML Manager reports and issues

Men’s League

Prem A, Prem B, Div 1: It is disappointing that relegations from the EHL will probably lead to extra relegations from Premier A. On a more positive note, slip matches had been much more promptly organised and played this season than last and indoor postponements had caused no significant problems.

1, 2N,2S: No significant issues.

4NE: BSE 3rd team has failed to rearrange three matches postponed in Nov, Jan and Feb. Agreed all to be awarded 0-3 and club to be warned that this is not acceptable. RM for DB.

3NW: Noted with regret that Boston 1^st team will probably have to withdraw next season.

4NW: Market Deeping and St Ives failed to liaise fully over a changed match time. Rather than debate responsibilities the match was replayed.

5NW: noted that Wisbech are claiming travel costs for a journey to a match at Rutland that could not be played due to the condition of the pitch.
There have been many complaints about the fielding of ineligible players in all divisions, but a reluctance to raise such issues on the day and/or on the teamsheets severely hampers any subsequent investigation.

3SE: Univ Essex used an unqualified umpire vs. Chelmsford 3. Match to be awarded 0-3. PS.

4SE: London Met arrived late for match vs. Upminster, although no major traffic incident. Umpire ‘awarded’ match to Upminster and Captain rang in 3-0 as if a result. Committee agreed match to be awarded 3-0 to Upminster and Upminster deducted 1 point for falsely reporting result. PS.

8SE: allegation that ineligible players were fielded vs. S Walden is being checked. SM.

7SW: a 9-1 win by Bishops Stortford 6 was achieved using a player doubled up from the 3^rd team. Match awarded 0-3 against. Noted that BS 6 has been subject to complaints about strength relative to higher teams in same club – may require consideration next season.

Women’s League

2NE: Postponed matches not rearranged by Gainsborough Rose will be awarded 0-3. These failures to organise slips were not forfeits, so no 3-point penalties need be applied.

3. League structure and organisation

3.1. A summary of County Ladies League rules potentially affecting East League team selections was discussed. EWL Managers to consider further. RP/SM/JG/SM

4. 2009-2010 preliminaries

4.1. All League Managers are willing to continue. One new volunteer has come forward, and will be asked to take two divisions to reduce load on existing Managers with more than 3 divisions. TW.

4.2. EWL team allocations to divisions must await results of EHL Playoffs on May 2^nd. SM/JG/RP/SM.

4.3. There are no outstanding EML promotion and relegation issues. Final tables will be published after the results of the EHL Playoffs are known, but clubs will be reminded that changes in team entries for next season can further affect the placing of teams in lower divisions.

4.4. Dates for next season:
Men: 26 Sept - 12 Dec and 16 Jan – 20 Mar.
Women: 19 Sept -12 Dec with one half term break and 9 Jan - 20 Mar with one h/t break. Dates of breaks to be established in line with majority of school half terms. RP.

5. Finance

5.1. All outstanding fines now paid.

6. Umpiring

6.1. ERHUA have agreed that it is impractical to show on teamsheets which umpire had issued which card and the reasons for it.

7. Discipline

7.1. Cards to date: EML 39R and 1104Y. EWL 2R and 141Y. The EML Y card total is slightly raised over that of last season. An analysis of the numbers of multiple cards will be carried out to determine if the increased penalties this season had shown any significant influence. If not, reversion of the rule to that of previous seasons would be put forward to the AGM. RM.

7.2. Unacceptable personal comments in an EWL match report by Cambs University 2 was drawn to the Club’s attention, and a full apology was subsequently sent to the team maligned.

7.3. Plashet 1 v O Southendian 1: 4th April. This replayed match had been abandoned due to excessive abuse and intimidation of umpires. Both teams were to blame, but clearly one more than the other. Agreed that match would be voided, teams deducted 6 and 3 points respectively, and warnings issued on future behaviour and potential expulsion from the league. TW/PS.

8. Rule change proposals for the 2009 AGM

8.1. A proposal from Winchmore Hill & Enfield HC that the results of abandoned games should stand after a minimum playing time was discussed, but rejected as it is impossible to set a cut-off time beyond which the result of every match is certain. TW to include proposal and reasons for decision in AGM papers.

9. AGM and Presentation Day:

Letchworth HC confirmed for 7^th June.

· Timetable (room from 12, AGM at 2, Buffet at 3, Presentations from 3.30): RN

· Catering for 90 people:  RN

· trophies return, purchase, engraving:  RN, SMe, SMa

· pennants:  PS

· certificates:  TW

· VIP and Sponsor invitations:  RN

· AGM agenda & papers:  TW

· Invitations to league winners – League Managers

10. East Management

10.1. No recent meetings to report.
Noted that the tenure of Bill Felton as East President was coming to an end. Bill has given positive and helpful support to the Leagues in the past two seasons, and we are very appreciative of that. All success is wished to the new East President, Sheila George.

11. AOB

11.1. Noted that responses had been made by both East Leagues to the EH proposal to move Men’s EHL games to Saturdays, in both cases firmly against the proposal. Such a change would cause inordinate pressure on pitch bookings for clubs, especially as EHL matches require double slots, with a knock-on effect on non-EHL clubs sharing pitch facilities in the same geographical area. Likewise, umpiring resources would become overstretched, with adverse effects on pool resources available to top regional divisions. The suggestion that the change would be helpful to regional leagues in controlling EHL club lower team selections was not accepted - our existing positive controls are better for that.

12. Future meetings: AGM 7^th June, Letchworth HC.