Morecambe and Lancaster made to wait for start of new cricket season

The Northern Premier League was due to get underway this Saturday but a decision has been taken to postpone the opening round of fixtures due to the recent wet weather.

At a meeting on Wednesday night clubs voted 9-3, with one abstention, in favour of rearranging this weekend’s games.

In an email to clubs interim league chairman Chris Lavery said: “As the vast majority of the clubs (9-3 with one sitting on the fence) felt it prudent to postpone this weekend’s matches owing to ground conditions and the forecast the executive committee have decided to postpone this weekend’s round of matches with them being rearranged on a date to be agreed later in the season.

“The executive were concerned about the real possibility of injury because of ground conditions. “I know that this decision will not please those clubs who wanted to play but it is felt that the right decision has been made having regard to all the circumstances.”

Defending champions Morecambe, who had been due to host Kendal, will now welcome Penrith to Woodhill Lane for their opening game on April 23.

Lancaster were set for a trip to Preston but will kick off their campaign instead at home to Netherfield on the same day.

Both sides had seen seen their warm-up fixtures last weekend washed out meaning preparations for the new season had been far from ideal.