8:36am Thursday 4th March 2010
By Matt Donlan
BLACKBURN Northern have quit the Ribblesdale Cricket League – but could make a return in 12 months time.
Northern have informed league chiefs of their decision after a lack of interest in carrying on from their own players, but now club officials intend to re-form and start up again from scratch.
Northern were voted out of the Senior League in November but were set to carry on with their first team playing in Division One and their junior teams, who won both U15 and U18 leagues last season.
That vote at the league AGM came in the wake of former skipper and cricket manager Rudra Singh forfeiting a game shortly after the tea interval at eventual champions Baxenden, claiming conditions were not fit.
That controversial concession forced a change to Ribblesdale League rules and also led to calls for Northern to be expelled.
However, after just one player attended a special pre-season meeting, the club has decided to withdraw and try to re-form in time for the 2011 season.
That decision means Northern, who won the Senior League double in 2007, will have no teams in action at their Pleckgate Road home, which is also a venue for squash, tennis and hockey under the Blackburn Northern Sports Club banner.
Ribblesdale League chairman Brian Woodhead said: “I am sorry to see this happen but the league will offer Northern all the support we can in order for them to re-form in 2011.”
Teams due to play Northern this season in the lower leagues will now receive byes.
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