Seeing as 3 clubs have apparently applied to join the Worcestershire League, and I can't see any of them coming from the Costwold Hills League, which 3 Marches clubs is it?

As Burghill & Tillington and Goodrich are apparently not joining after all, I'd go for 3 of Garnons, Hereford City, Bartestree & Lugwardine and Ross-on-Wye, with Strollers as an outside bet.

Anyone else have any idle speculation?!

I would have thought any club who had applied would have brought it up during the recent meeting but I could be wrong.

Rumour on the street is that Shire Bulls, Lads Club and Bishops Frome are the three clubs that have applied.

I think worcs cricket league is next month so for a change it might be interesting. Red Marley were linked a couple of seosons ago but would be surprised to see them joining. Stat any substance in the Ross story. I think Hereford City burnt thier bridges a few years back so would not be wanted. Theres a chance I suppose that Barnards Green 3s and 4s could come in r Taveners 3s and 4s something like that. I will bet on Ross coming in cos statto said barnards green and red marley. What is the rumour mil in Hereford leagues. is there a chance of Welsh teams?

Ross seems very strong rumour Matt, id think they would start
in div 4 though? It appears Goodrich, Canon Frome and B&TCC all
showing interest but didnt bite bullett in time for this year.
Id imagine a few would look to join season 2008 the worcs league
would be getting pretty full by then.

That's a fair point. How many teams would they actually let in? Or would they just create more leagues? Seems like the marches league is gonna be on the same par as the scottish premier division soon.......

You might not be far off with Ross, but hereford and b&l i very
much doubt it. Also be very suprised if Garnons make the move.

My list of possible sides was merely done on which Herefordshire based Marches clubs have actually got 2 XIs and are in Marches 1 at the moment, as bar that lot I suggested there's only Canon Frome and Leominster, who both seemed to have struggled a bit recently on the pitch, and on occasions to get a 2nd XI out. There's also Woolhope, Ledbury but they're both currently in Marches Div 2, and Strollers were 2nd in Div 4 (Div 3 next season I presume?). Therefore I didn't think any of them would be in the running to join the Worcestershire League anytime soon. On another thread someone from Burghill & Tillington said that they wouldn't be joining next year but might in 2008, and also said that Goodrich hadn't mentioned joining, so that's why I left those two out.

Ross may currently be in Marches 2 but they have 4 or 5 successful youth teams, a decent pitch and a refurbished pavilion, so would seem like the sort of club that the Worcester League would be keen to invite to join. Hereford City did burn their bridges with the Worcester League and have struggled ever since, but as there's a past connection I don't think they can totally be ruled out. Bartestree & Lugwardine have just got clubmark, and run several youth sides, so might be interested in joining the WCL, and Garnons were offered Div 3 several years ago but turned it down. So there is some method in my madness. But most of it is educated guessing!

Im a little suprised that many clubs are looking to leave the marches league. I know the league has been going backwards for a while but the standard of cricket in the top 2 divisions is still very strong with some top players.

Is the standard the only reason the clubs are leaving the league?

Told at WCL Dinner last night that there are in total 7 more teams looking to join the WCL setup in total. 2 from Herefordshire being Ross (accepted into Div 4 South) and Canon Fodder. Set-up next year will be Div 1,2 and 3, then regionalisation of Div 4.

Are Cannon Fodder definately leaving?

Interesting stuff. If there's 7 new teams joining and only 2 are from Herefordshire then where are the other 5 clubs from? The Cotswold Hills League could be decimated next year. I guess that would also mean 56 clubs with the top 3 Divisions still having 12 clubs in each, and 10 in each of the Division 4s. Are Canon Frome going into Div 4 South along with Ross then?

Dunno if Canon Frome are definately leaving, only that they have applied to join the WCL for next season. Ross are in Division 4 South next year confirmed.

Some of the sides are entering their 3rd and 4th XIs in Divisions 5-8 Statto so that is where most of the 'new' teams are coming from I think.

So these 7 new teams aren't joining the two Division 4s then? I thought Barnards Green 3rd and 4ths might be in Division 4 South for instance. I guess Division 3 might have 10 teams then after all.

Heard another rumour that Goodrich may be joining the WCL as well as Ross and Canon Frome. Apparently Colwall still haven't given up on getting into Division 2 next year either...