CRICKET

LUCTONIANS Cricket Club have resigned from the Crusader Worcestershire County League to return to the Marches League.

The club will be playing in Division 1 of the Marches League this summer.

Luctonians' director of cricket, Duncan Platford, said the move was a relief to the whole club'. The club's second team struggled last season and were relegated from Division 2 2nd XI of the Worcestershire league. The Herefordshire outfit decided to withdraw from the Worcestershire League after an emergency general meeting.

Platford said: "It was noted that most of the members did not want to carry on in the Worcestershire league. Continuing to play in the Worcestershire County League was not viable for the club. We now believe that we will retain players. When the decision was taken to move back to the Marches League, it was a relief to the whole club."

Platford said members had not wanted to see the club reduced to just two sides - a possibility if they had chosen to remain in the Worcestershire league. "We need three teams to be viable. I felt our first team had found their level in Division 2 but if we were not going to have enough players to have a second team, it would be pointless having a first team in the Worcestershire league." Platford added: "It could be perceived as a step back but it was a necessity for Luctonians Cricket Club."

Luctonians were among the first of the Herefordshire clubs to join the Worcestershire league when the cricketing pyramid was reorganised in 1999. They enjoyed a spell in Division 1 after securing the Division 2 runners-up spot in 1999, while the second team were the runners-up of the Division 1 2nd XI in 2000. Luctonians were also founder members of the Marches League and were Division 1 champions in 1993. They lifted the Marches Knock-out Cup in 1995.

Luctonians' cricket secretary, Chris Meek, said: "We hope to bolster the strength of the Marches League and improve the playing standards in Herefordshire." The club's first team will be captained by Andrew Wilmot, with Ben Amos skippering the second team in Division 3 and Nick Byron leading the third team.