HOLMFIRTH, Linthwaite and Emley Clarence have all had fines slapped on them and points deducted.

Holmfirth were penalised six points and fined £20 by the Drakes League Executive due to the incorrect transfer procedure used to sign Israr Ul-Haq, who remains a Micklehurst player.

The decision will severely hit the Holme Valley club’s hopes of escaping relegation from the Premiership.

Although the deduction does not affect their position in the table – third bottom – it does leave them trailing fourth-bottom Shelley now by nine points and Meltham by 11.

The other two penalties handed out affect Linthwaite and Emley’s Second teams.

In Linthwaite’s case, they were deducted six points and fined £20 after the transfer of Rizwan Ahmed was not accepted as it arrived too late for this season, resulting in the player still being on Paddock’s register.

At Emley, Chris Stratford was not registered at all, therefore they were deducted two points gained from the match against Hall Bower and docked a further six points along with a £20 fine, with the rider that Stratford is unable to play for the rest of this season. This Sunday’s cricket features the Black Sheep Champions Trophy semi-final between Townville and Honley (at Townville), but for those not wishing to travel that far, Shepley’s Marsh Lane ground is the big draw as they stage the Second Elevens showpiece, the Spectrum Interiors Paddock Shield final, which is against Elland (1.00).