Why leagues have to talk to stop cup clashes again (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Why leagues have to talk to stop cup clashes again

3:10pm Wednesday 7th July 2010 in Talking Cricket column By Matt Donlan, Sports reporter

I THINK you can call it Murhpy’s Law...weeks of great weather and then the change and that return to rain – just in time for the Worsley Cup and Rams-bottom Cup semi-finals.

It was bound to happen, it always seems to happen.

The big cricket games are so often ruined by the bad weather.

And that, of course, can’t be controlled.

But at least the weekend rain gave the powers that be something of a get-out clause.

Because the daft idea to schedule the semi-finals of the two league’s flagship competitions on the same day is one that leaves me scratching my head.

You want the semi-finals to be a special occasion. You want to see busy grounds, you want to give cricket fans the chance to go and watch the games.

Yes, I know some fans of each league like to think their league is the best thing since it was decided to slice bread, but the majority of cricket people would jump at the chance to watch semis in both competitions.

And the games were good. A thriller at Ramsbottom, a record score at Padiham, a West Indian Test ace playing on Cherry Tree and the marathon between Bacup and Colne.

Yet the fans had to choose. Surely it can’t be that difficult for the leagues to talk to each other so they don’t have this clash ever again.

It would benefit the clubs because more people would be tempted to turn out and put their cash into the coffers of clubs who really need the boost.

But then again, maybe it would be easier to arrange the weather.