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In the 2012 season the North-East Mid-Week Cricket League, in their 41st full season, had 38 teams playing in five divisions with two further teams applying too late to achieve the ideal quota of 40 teams. With extensive rain, and thus more grounds congestion than usual, it was a difficult season to complete all fixtures but clubs did commendably well to rearrange most games, some after several postponements. The League President's XI skippered by Paul Smith defeated 2011 Champions Adders in the traditional Merz & McLellan Cup, played at Durham City CC. Rowlands Chartered Accountants won the League Championship, just ahead of Kirkwood by 3 points. The other divisional winners were Old Record Players, Pont Eagles, Corinthians and new team Cramlington. The Sadler Brown Cup was won by GEM who defeated Kirkwood in the final played at Backworth CC. Unfortunately the Duke of Northumberland Cup, now an annual fixture for the President's XI with a Northumberland League XI, could not be rearranged following a postponement owing to the poor weather.
Sets of coloured balls were given to each team for trial use to assess the benefit of either a pink, orange or yellow ball. Pink was decided to be the most beneficial colour and it is intended to at least recommend extended use of a better quality pink ball for the evening games next season.The Management Committee will meet as usual during the close season (commencing Wednesday 7th November) to discuss this trial and other procedural and format changes that may be advisable for convenient and smooth operation of the League and Cup fixtures to offer good, fair, friendly but competitive mid-week cricket playing opportunities to as many players and supporters as reasonably possible in 2013.
Regrettably, three teams have resigned owing to lack of players but new teams are guaranteed; there always being a seasonal turnover as the League remains a dynamic one offering the opportunity of evening cricket to a wide variety of local talent and age.
The League are delighted that their President and long term stalwart Malcolm Kennedy, a former player with Merz & McLellan since the late 1960's and a keen informal umpire has been honoured with a local OSCA in the Leagues and Boards Category. We wish him well for his well deserved visit to the national awards at Lords.
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