DRAKES League officials have cleared Moreland Le Blanc to continue playing for Hoylandswaine in the top flight.

A number of clubs complained about his registration, suggesting he was a non-EU player and therefore ineligible because the Barnsley club already have Australian Anthony Marr.

But League chairman Roger France explained Le Blanc is from St Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles and, while he lives in the Caribbean and plays his cricket there, he has a Dutch passport stating he is a Dutch citizen and, as such, he is an EU player.

“An EU player can play without qualification or restriction, just like anyone from this country,” explained France.

“A non-EU player is from overseas and outside the European Union countries and, with Moreland Le Blanc, I think clubs have thought this was the case for him.

“But we have seen his passport, it says he is a Dutch citizen and, as such, he can come here and play freely in accordance with European Union law.”

The League chief explained an appendix in the handbook had caused some confusion.

“In the appendix, it states that to qualify as an EU player a person must satisfy one of a number of criteria, and Moreland Le Blanc doesn’t satisfy any of them,” explained France. “But he is already an EU player due to his Dutch citizenship, so he doesn’t have to satisfy any of the criteria.

“He is an EU player, simple as that, and he can play here without a problem.”

The chairman explained the wording of the appendix would be made more specific to avoid such confusion in future.

Le Blanc scored only 11 for Swaine on Saturday, being one of Steve Whitwam’s seven victims for Golcar, but the Barnsley side still won thanks to Yorkshire’s Joe Sayers hitting 67 in their 216 total.

Young Eddie Wilson hit 61 in reply for Golcar, but they had no significant partnerships as they were bowled out 10 short, Le Blanc taking two wickets.

Honley remain seven points clear at the top of the Premiership after leg spinner Tom Craddock ripped out visitors Skelmanthorpe for 187 with a haul of eight for 63 from 18 overs.

While Craddock proved destructive with the ball, powerful Simon Kelly was unstoppable with the bat and he rattled up an unbeaten 127 off 107 balls with a six and 22 fours.

Wasim Jaffer was the anchorman for the Sykes Cup finalists with 76 off 118 balls including 10 boundaries.

Shepley remain second after their victory against third-placed Delph & Dobcross, Tim Rees and Tom Denton doing the business with the bat while SP Singh and Danny Glover were among the wickets.

Barkisland’s Gary Colman was the top Premiership run-getter with 133 in their 5-1 win over Holmfirth, who were held at 298-7 in response to the home side’s 315-7, Simon Wheelwright adding 64 for the victors and Jonny Forrester and Dave Cocking each firing half centuries for Holmfirth.

Iqbal Khan had an unbeaten 63 as Scholes bounced back from their Sykes Cup nightmare with a five-wicket win at Marsden, while Dominic Finn’s 53 not out for Elland steered them to a six-point win at Kirkburton, who were bowled out for 183 with James Thornton and Craig Fletcher taking four wickets apiece.

Broad Oak finally ended their losing streak with a 27-run win at Slaithwaite thanks to an excellent all-round display from Romain Grenville. He hit 98 not out as Broad Oak posted 234-5 and then took four wickets as the home side were dismissed for 207.

Kexborough have closed to within a point of Shelley at the top of the Frank Platt Championship thanks to a maximum at Lepton while the leaders were going down to Meltham at Mean Lane.

Michael Jepps picked up three wickets and veteran spinner Neil Hinchliffe the other seven as Lepton were bowled out for 216 (Andy Grey 49no). Jepps then hit 89 not out as Kexborough got home by four wickets.

Ibrar Hussain had a terrific haul of five for 17 as Meltham skittled Shelley for 177 (Scott Marsh hitting 62).

Meltham got home in the 43rd over after Darren Hinchliffe had hit 50 at the top of the order.

The joint-top individual batting tally of the day came in the Cedar Court Conference with Zahid Ahmed clubbing 133 for Paddock but in a losing cause against Lascelles Hall.

Ahmed hit 19 fours in his 128-ball knock, but Paddock could reach only 271-9 in reply to the Hall total of 289-7.

Greg Wadsworth had 93 for the Hall off just 67 balls (15 fours and two sixes) while Murphy Walwyn had nine fours in his 89-ball 57. Wadsworth followed up his fine batting with a five-wicket haul to ensure five points for the Hall.