We are now at the end of the first month on the new season, although it may not feel like it in view of the issues cricket has had with the early season weather.

We at last had some decent weather last weekend and it looks set fair for this weekend so hopefully we can have a period when weather does not have an impact either with matches being called off, abandoned due to the rain, or the calculators coming out to find the DLS Par Score etc.

There appears general agreement that putting the season back a week was a good idea and gave grounds an extra week to be prepared.

On the field, there has been some excellent competitive cricket, my first match umpiring was the tie between Tonge and Oswaldtwistle, in a match that ebbed and flowed until the final ball.

A lot of work has taken place by the NWCL Junior League in preparation for the extensive Inter League Programme which takes place during the season and a huge thanks to all those involved in this process.

As many of you are aware there have been numerous issue with the Play Cricket system which has made scoring, updating scorecards etc., difficult hopefully these problems are behind up.

As has been widely reported, the League were informed that Settle would be resigning from the NWCL and in the 2024 season will be joining the Northern League/Palace Shield.

As a League we are in the process of advertising for suitable Clubs to apply to join the NWCL.

Last weekend the road to the Ramsbottom Cup Final stared, with this weekend teams playing in the Hamer Cup or the Lancashire Knockout Cup the following Sunday.

I am sure that we all give our best wishes to out eight representatives in the Lancashire Cup and hope that our teams make good progress into the latter stages of that competition with a match at Old Trafford the reward for making it all the way to the Final.

The Senior 20/20 starts towards the end of the month with the Group Stage matches, with Clubs looking to qualify for the Quarter Finals and ultimately Finals Day.

Best Wishes
William Slinger